A very beloved supermarket and its 80 years of history is about to disappear as a brand. This is not a closure due to bankruptcy, but a sale that’s part of a wide tendency in the U.S.: big chain stores are buying smaller supermarkets. So, lt’s learn more about what’s happening.
Terrel’s Markets
Terrel’s Markets is an independent and family supermarket founded in 1946, and throughout the years it grew so much that it had up to 6 stores in central Utah. These stores are located in:
- Fillmore
- Gunnison
- Mount Pleasant
- Nephi
- Payson
- Santaquin
Who bought Terrel’s Markets?
The supermarket chain was bought by Ridley’s Family Markets, another family company, but bigger. Ridley’s has about 31 supermarkets and 2 pharmacies in several states in the west of the U.S., including:
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- Utah
- Wyoming
The sale was agreed in February and it’s expected to be completed in April.
What now?
Many people are confused because the stores won’t physically close, but they will no longer be named Terrel’s Markets. Ridley’s plans on changing the name of the 6 acquired stores, they will either become Ridley’s stores or operate under another banner owned by the company, called Macey’s.
In its official statement, Ridley’s emphasized that it is committed to supporting employees and maintaining the customer service standards both companies are known for.
According to a report from Progressive Grocer, this acquisition is almost a homecoming for Ridley’s. The company was founded by Jerry and Connie Ridley in Payson, Utah — which is one of the towns where a Terrel’s store currently operates.
Nationwide tendency
Terrel’s Markets sale is not an isolated case, this is part of a nationwide tendency in the supermarket sector. Every time, more big store chains are buying smaller competitors, and this action has a name: market consolidation.
For example, Aldi purchased 400 stores from Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s Supermarkets in 2024. Later, Aldi sold some of them back in order to focus on converting around 220 locations into Aldi-branded stores. The company plans to open approximately 180 new stores under its own name in 2026.
Not every attempted merger has been successful. Kroger tried to acquire Albertsons in a deal valued at about $24.6 billion. However, federal and state courts blocked the merger in December 2024 following lawsuits from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). After the deal collapsed, Albertsons filed its own lawsuit against Kroger. Kroger is now closing at least 60 stores this year.
Stores closed in 2025
Thousands of stores across the United States closed in 2025 in several retail sectors. Let’s have a look at some of the most notable examples of stores closing:
- Joann Fabrics, which closed all 800 of its locations after filing for bankruptcy.
- Claire’s, which shut down 235 main stores and 56 Icing locations.
- Forever 21, which closed approximately 354 stores in the United States.
- Macy’s, which is in the process of closing 150 stores by 2026.
- Party City, which closed around 850 stores and now has no remaining locations.
- Dollar General, which has closed or plans to close over 140 stores across its formats.
- GameStop, which closed more than 400 locations this year.
- CVS, which has shuttered around 270 stores.
- Walgreens, which plans to close 500 stores by the end of 2025.
- Carter’s, which is working toward closing 150 stores by 2028.
Many of these closures are linked to bankruptcy filings, cost-cutting measures, or efforts to improve profitability.
So…
For you as a shopper, the most noticeable difference may simply be a new name on the storefront. But behind that new name is a broader trend reshaping how grocery businesses operate in the United States.