BUTLER TWP — Two Bottom Dollar Food stores in Butler County will close by the end of the year after the parent company Delhaize Group sold the chain’s 66 stores to ALDI.

The sale, which includes associated lease liabilities, is for about $15 million.

As a result of the transaction, Delhaize Group will no longer operate in the discount segment of food retail in the United States.

The Bottom Dollar Food stores in Butler Township are in the Bon Aire Plaza along Route 8 just north of Butler and in Butler Crossing along New Castle Road.

The Butler Crossing location is near an ALDI store at Butler Commons development.

Both of those developments are owned by Cedarwood Development.

Store managers at both the Bon Aire and Butler Crossing stores declined to comment on the announcement.

The Delhaize Group previously stated its strategy of focusing on its core operations in the traditional supermarket segment. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015.

Bottom Dollar Food anticipates all stores will remain open until the end of the year. After that time, Bottom Dollar Food will close the stores and retire the banner’s operations. 

The company said it will offer every associate severance, and eligible associates will be offered career transition services.

“This decision was difficult given the impact on our associates, customers and communities in which we operate,” said Gene Faller, vice president of retail operations for Bottom Dollar Food, in a news release. “We want to thank our associates, customers and communities for their support over the past four years.”

Bottom Dollar Food opened its first store in King of Prussia on Oct. 8, 2010, and has 46 stores in greater Philadelphia and 20 stores in greater Pittsburgh. It employs about 2,200 associates.