Lidl US is acquiring 27 Best Market stores in New York and New Jersey, promising changes for workers and customers.
Best Market, locally owned, has been the target of a campaign to improve wages and working conditions. Best Market took over the Waldbaum’s on East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station, in 2012, after the latter chain closed earlier in the year after 40 years of operation on the site.
Lidl said it plans to remodel, reinvest and reflag Best Market stores, and that all Best Market employees in New Jersey and New York will have guaranteed employment opportunities with Lidl following the transition.”Team members will be welcomed into positions with Lidl that offer wages and benefits that are equal to or better than what they earn with Best Market. The terms of the acquisition agreement are not disclosed, and it is expected to close over the coming months,” the German supermarket chain said.
The Huntington Station store had undergone remodeling in recent years, expanding its deli and fresh foods operations, and Best Market had jut recently announced a plan to remodel its East Northport store.
“Today is a great day for Long Island, our Best Market team, and our valued customers in New Jersey and New York,” said Aviv Raitses, co-owner of Best Market. “Partnering with Lidl on this deal offers our employees a secure future with a growing grocer and continues the great tradition we started more than twenty years ago. We are delighted to be part of such a win-win and Best Market customers have something great to look forward to with Lidl.”
In August, Lidl was ranked No. 3 on a list of best supermarket chains in the U.S. It operates about 10,500 stores in 29 countries.