The Shaw's supermarket chain is bailing out of Connecticut.Shaw's Supermarkets Inc., whose sole local in-state store on Boston Post Road in Waterford closed in March 2001 after less than five years in business, said Friday it is selling all 18 of its Connecticut supermarkets. The Bridgewater, Mass.-based company will sell 11 of its stores to Wakefern Food Corp., operator of ShopRite and PriceRite stores, and five locations to Stop & Shop.

Shaw's Supermarkets Inc., whose sole local in-state store on Boston Post Road in Waterford closed in March 2001 after less than five years in business, said Friday it is selling all 18 of its Connecticut supermarkets. The Bridgewater, Mass.-based company will sell 11 of its stores to Wakefern Food Corp., operator of ShopRite and PriceRite stores, and five locations to Stop & Shop. Two other stores, in Manchester and New Haven, are still being shopped around. The transactions are expected to close in the spring, and the stores that are changing hands will be extensively renovated before being reopened.

Two other stores, in Manchester and New Haven, are still being shopped around. The transactions are expected to close in the spring, and the stores that are changing hands will be extensively renovated before being reopened."While these decisions are always difficult, given the impact on associates and customers, they ultimately allow us to operate more efficiently and effectively within a highly competitive retail environment," said Pete Van Helden, executive vice president of retail operations for Minneapolis-based SuperValu Inc., parent company of Shaw's.

"While these decisions are always difficult, given the impact on associates and customers, they ultimately allow us to operate more efficiently and effectively within a highly competitive retail environment," said Pete Van Helden, executive vice president of retail operations for Minneapolis-based SuperValu Inc., parent company of Shaw's. Shaw's runs 176 other stores spread throughout the five other New England states, including one in Westerly that will not be affected by the Connecticut sales.

Shaw's runs 176 other stores spread throughout the five other New England states, including one in Westerly that will not be affected by the Connecticut sales. No financial details of the store sales were released. But all the former Shaw's stores likely were sold at less than what it would cost to build a new store, said Mark Hamstra, retail and financial editor for New York City-based Supermarket News.

No financial details of the store sales were released. But all the former Shaw's stores likely were sold at less than what it would cost to build a new store, said Mark Hamstra, retail and financial editor for New York City-based Supermarket News.Hamstra said the deal could be seen as a retrenchment for Shaw's, which has been closing stores in Connecticut for the past few years.

Hamstra said the deal could be seen as a retrenchment for Shaw's, which has been closing stores in Connecticut for the past few years."Shaw's has been under some pressure down in New England, especially since Stop & Shop has reinvigorated itself and taken a fresh approach to pricing," Hamstra said.

"Shaw's has been under some pressure down in New England, especially since Stop & Shop has reinvigorated itself and taken a fresh approach to pricing," Hamstra said.Hamstra said Stop & Shop has been careful about acquisitions in recent years, but a few months ago signaled an intention to become "newly aggressive" in efforts to boost market share.

Hamstra said Stop & Shop has been careful about acquisitions in recent years, but a few months ago signaled an intention to become "newly aggressive" in efforts to boost market share.The closest Stop & Shop acquisition of a Shaw's is in East Hampton. Stop & Shop is the dominant grocery chain in southeastern Connecticut, with stores in Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Waterford, Groton, Montville, Norwich, Pawcatuck, Stonington and Westerly.

The closest Stop & Shop acquisition of a Shaw's is in East Hampton. Stop & Shop is the dominant grocery chain in southeastern Connecticut, with stores in Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Waterford, Groton, Montville, Norwich, Pawcatuck, Stonington and Westerly.Wakefern said 10 of its stores will be converted into ShopRites and one into a PriceRite. The closest of these stores are in Clinton and Willimantic.

Wakefern said 10 of its stores will be converted into ShopRites and one into a PriceRite. The closest of these stores are in Clinton and Willimantic."The acquisition of these stores represents an exceptional growth opportunity for Wakefern," said the company's chairman of the board and chief executive, Joseph Colalillo, in a statement.

"The acquisition of these stores represents an exceptional growth opportunity for Wakefern," said the company's chairman of the board and chief executive, Joseph Colalillo, in a statement.Hamstra said Wakefern's acquisitions give ShopRite, which has stores locally in New London and Norwich, a "much stronger presence in Connecticut." The ShopRites are run by individual operators as part of a cooperative, he added.

Hamstra said Wakefern's acquisitions give ShopRite, which has stores locally in New London and Norwich, a "much stronger presence in Connecticut." The ShopRites are run by individual operators as part of a cooperative, he added.Hamstra said Shaw's has gone through a couple ownership changes in the past few years, and some analysts believe it hasn't been the focus of SuperValu.

Hamstra said Shaw's has gone through a couple ownership changes in the past few years, and some analysts believe it hasn't been the focus of SuperValu."Analysts have speculated company divisions could be up for sale, and that includes Shaw's," he said.

"Analysts have speculated company divisions could be up for sale, and that includes Shaw's," he said.l.howard@theday.com

l.howard@theday.com