Anyone else wishing this is not the end of the pink and green leaf cookies dipped in chocolate?! ........asking for a friend.
A major shake-up is coming to Long Island’s grocery scene.
Giunta’s Meat Farms has announced it will acquire the iconic King Kullen Grocery Co., bringing together two longtime family-owned Long Island businesses in a landmark deal. The acquisition includes 24 King Kullen supermarkets and four Wild by Nature locations, making Giunta’s one of the largest supermarket chains on Long Island, behind only Stop & Shop. The transaction is expected to close in September, pending customary closing conditions.
For shoppers, it’s expected to be business as usual for now. Both companies will continue operating independently until the sale is finalized, and all King Kullen and Wild by Nature employees are expected to remain with the company after the transition.
King Kullen holds a special place in grocery history as America’s first supermarket, opening in 1930. While the chain once operated more than 50 stores, increased competition over the years led to several closures, leaving it with 24 King Kullen locations and four Wild by Nature stores today.
Joseph Giunta, co-owner of Giunta’s Meat Farms, said the company is honored to continue King Kullen’s legacy while bringing the value-focused shopping experience that Meat Farms has become known for. King Kullen President and COO Tracey Cullen added that finding another Long Island family-owned company to carry the brand into its next chapter made the decision feel like the right fit.
Giunta’s Meat Farms currently operates 10 Long Island locations and has steadily expanded over the years. This acquisition marks one of the biggest grocery deals Long Island has seen in decades and keeps ownership of the nearly century-old supermarket chain in local hands.
