Publix Buys Safeway's Stores in Fla.

Publix Super Markets Inc. is purchasing Safeway's three remaining stores in Florida from Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos.

Located in Altamonte Springs, Largo and Oakland Park, the three locations will continue operating under the Safeway banner until early September. However, the Safeway pharmacies will close before the main store closings, though Publix posted will be displayed in the pharmacies to advise customers once their prescriptions have transferred to the Publix Pharmacy.

All locations are anticipated to reopen under the Publix banner within the fourth quarter of this year.

“Publix continues to look for ways to expand within our operating area to better serve our customers,” said Publix President and CEO Todd Jones. “We are excited for this opportunity to acquire existing stores within our home state.”

Publix is encouraging impacted Safeway employees to pursue job opportunities at Publix, and will provide details on how to apply for employment.

In other Publix news, earlier this week, the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer was cited as the only grocer on Fortune’s latest list of 100 top spots for Millennials to work.

Publix employs more than 190,000 associates and operates 1,187 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The retailer ranks as No. 4 on Progressive Grocer’s Super 50 list of top grocers in the United States.