Marsh Facing $200K in Unpaid Bills

Creditors say Indiana-based grocery retailer Marsh Supermarkets hasn’t been paying its bills, which reportedly have exceeded $200,000 for rent and contracting services.

The landlord of one Indianapolis-area store location claims that the retailer owes more than $100,000 for rent in December and January, as well as unpaid property taxes, the Indiana Business Journal (IBJ) reported. Additionally, Marion County, Ind., liens show outstanding bills for contracting work in excess of $136,000, according to IBJ.

A security firm sued Marsh earlier this month over $27,000 in unpaid fees for loss prevention services, but this dispute has been settled, the publication reported.

Marsh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Founded by the Marsh family in 1931 and currently owned by Boca Raton, Fla.-based private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, Marsh has been struggling in the face of competition from other grocery chains, including Kroger, Meijer and Walmart. Marsh has shrunk over the past decade from about 120 stores to about 70 in Indiana and Ohio, and Sun has reportedly been trying to sell the chain at various times since acquiring it in 2006.

A year ago, the retailer announced an ambitious 30-store remodeling plan after several years of store closings, while at other times announcing new stores and refresh projects.