Gaithersburg, MD — Weis Markets is expanding its reach in Maryland, buying 21 Food Lion stores in a sale expected to close by late July. Among the stores included in the sale are two stores in Gaithersburg.

Both companies are based overseas, but the local stores of the two grocery chains are frequently around the corner from each other.

Food Lion's parent company Delhaize Group has been weighing options for the Food Lion sites while negotiating a merger with the parent company of rival Giant grocery stores, Ahold.

15789 Livingston Road, Accoceek

12100 Central Avenue, Mitchelville

5715 Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro

St. Mary's County:

45315 Alton Lane, California

20995 Point Lookout Road, Calloway

19 Saint Mary's Square, Lexington Park

Talbot County: 219 Marlboro Avenue, Easton

The changeover to Weis Markets should be done in September and October, says the company, which says it wants to hire current Food Lion store teams for the purchased locations.

"We look forward to interviewing and hiring team members who share our commitment to offering an industry-leading combination of value, quality and customer service," Weis said.

In March, shareholders of Ahold and Delhaize agreed to the $10.9 million merger. The deal is expected to be completed this month.

Many had assumed the Giant locations would be sold. Instead, it appears those locations will be converted to Food Lion brands. And the existing Food Lion stores will be sold and converted to Weis Markets.

"Selling stores is a difficult part of any merger process, given the impact on our associates, customers and communities in which we operate," Delhaize Group President/CEO Frans Muller said. "We believe we have made every effort to identify strong buyers for these locations, and we want to thank our loyal associates and customers who have shopped our stores and supported us for so many years."

—Story reported by Patch Editor Elizabeth Janney

Patch File Photo.