Eastside Marketplace sold to Stop & Shop’s owner

PROVIDENCE, R.I.  – According to published reports, Eastside Marketplace, a Providence, R.I.,- grocery store, has been sold to a subsidiary of Ahold USA, which operates Stop & Shop stores.



The independent grocery store, a local leader in marketing organic, prepared and international foods, is being sold by Scott B. Laurans, who has been the owner since 1981.



Laurans told WPRI.com that he plans to keep the existing 168 employees and management in place, and will continue to operate the business as “Eastside Marketplace.”



“It’s great for our employees, great for our customers and the community at large to have one of the great retailers in the world make that long-term commitment to Rhode Island and Providence, in particular,” Laurans said.



Ahold USA operates four divisions: Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover. The company has U.S. headquarters in Quincy, Mass., and Carlisle, Penn., and said it employed 117,000 people nationwide as of last year.