Food Lion, Salisbury, N.C., announced plans to acquire four BI-LO stores in the Greater Myrtle Beach, S.C., Florence, S.C., and Columbia, S.C., areas from Southeastern Grocers, Jacksonville, Fla.

"We are so excited to add these four new locations to our network of nearly 70 stores serving the greater Myrtle Beach, Florence and Columbia areas," says Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. "We are part of the fabric of this community. We've been here in these towns and cities nourishing our neighbors and customers for nearly 40 years. With the addition of these four new stores, we have an even greater opportunity to serve more customers with fresh, quality products at affordable prices every day with the caring, friendly service they expect from Food Lion."

All locations will remain open as BI-LO stores until the transaction is complete, which is expected in late May.