4 Major Supermarket Chains to Close South Carolina Locations This Spring 2026

South Carolina Grocery Shakeup: Major Supermarket Changes This Spring 2026

Here is what you need to know about the major supermarket shifts occurring across the Palmetto State in Spring 2026.

1. Kroger: The 60-Store Efficiency Pivot

As part of a nationwide "optimization" plan, Cincinnati-based Kroger is closing approximately 60 stores through late 2026. This move follows a strategic reassessment after a turbulent year of industry restructuring.

• The Strategy: Leadership noted that resources from these underperforming sites will be reallocated to stronger markets and reinvested into the "customer experience," specifically digital growth and in-store technology.
• Fulfillment Center Shifts: As part of broader logistical changes, Kroger is closing several of its automated fulfillment facilities across the South this spring, shifting back to store-based fulfillment for its delivery services.
• The Impact: While Kroger has not released a finalized public "hit list" for South Carolina, internal evaluations have targeted several older storefronts where newer competition has thinned margins.

2. The Fresh Market: Strategic Rebalancing

The Fresh Market is currently fine-tuning its portfolio by closing select stores that have not met performance benchmarks in their first year of operation.

• Closures: The chain has shuttered a handful of newer locations that struggled to gain traction in competitive markets.
• The Rebound: Simultaneously, the grocer is opening new locations in growing South Carolina hubs where demand for premium, specialty foods remains high. This "one-in, one-out" strategy is part of a plan to align operations with long-term growth goals.

3. Lidl: Trimming the Footprint

The German discount giant Lidl has been refining its site selection process in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

• Underperforming Sites: Following a trend seen in recent years, Lidl is continuing to close underperforming stores in South Carolina to focus on locations that see higher foot traffic and "significant growth."
• Community Impact: For some neighborhoods, these exits mean the loss of a primary low-cost grocery option, often replaced by the rapid expansion of its rival, Aldi, which has announced plans to open 30 new stores in 2026 alone.

4. Expansion Bright Spots: Food Lion and Walmart

While some doors are closing, other chains are doubling down on South Carolina this spring.

• Food Lion: The chain is currently in a major growth phase. It recently opened a new store in Pontiac and is scheduled to open another new location in Simpsonville in March 2026.
• Walmart: Under its "Store of the Future" program, Walmart is currently remodeling several existing South Carolina supercenters to better accommodate high-volume online grocery pickup and delivery.

Why is this happening now?

Industry analysts point to three primary drivers for the Spring 2026 shakeup:

1. Omnichannel Costs: Maintaining a physical footprint is expensive. Chains are closing smaller stores that cannot accommodate the logistics of the surge in grocery e-commerce.
2. Post-Merger Realities: Following recent major industry shifts, companies are refocusing on "lean" operations to remain competitive against non-traditional grocers like Amazon and Costco.
3. The "Aldi Effect": Aldi’s massive 2026 expansion is forcing traditional supermarkets to either modernize their existing stores or exit neighborhoods where they can no longer compete on price.