A major southern grocery chain is closing multiple locations amid mounting financial pressure and shifting market trends. Homeland Acquisition Corp. (HAC) Inc. confirmed it will shut down five stores across Oklahoma and Georgia due to underperformance.
Four stores under its Homeland, United Supermarkets, and Discount Foods banners in Oklahoma are set to close by August 16. Additionally, a Piggly Wiggly in Gordon, Georgia, is also shutting its doors, according to the Daily Mail.
HAC Inc., based in Oklahoma City, operates 80 grocery stores under several familiar names, including Homeland, United, Piggly Wiggly, Food World, and CashSaver. Homeland is its flagship banner and the largest locally owned grocery chain in Oklahoma, with 36 locations statewide.
Christin King, Homeland’s director of marketing and public relations, said the closures allow the company to redirect resources to more promising markets. “We’re focusing on areas where we can grow communities and strengthen the overall organization,” she told The Oklahoman.
Traditional supermarkets have faced intense pressure for years as consumers gravitate toward discount chains, big-box retailers, and online shopping. Rising inflation and shifting preferences have only accelerated the trend.
“It’s a more competitive grocery landscape,” said Arun Sundaram of CFRA Research. “New players, rising costs, and evolving consumer habits have changed the game.”
This challenging environment also drove Kroger and Albertsons to pursue a $25 billion merger, aiming to better compete with Walmart, Costco, and Amazon. But a federal judge blocked the merger in December 2024, siding with the FTC’s concerns about reduced competition.
With the merger dead, both Kroger and Albertsons have resumed store closures. Kroger recently announced plans to shut 60 stores this year, while still opening new locations in high-growth areas to stay competitive.