Kings Food Markets
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Grocery store |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020; acquired by Albertsons |
| Headquarters | Parsippany, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Northern New Jersey, New York, Connecticut |
| Products | Kings Own private label products |
| Owner | Albertsons (since 2020) |
Kings Food Markets is a grocery store chain based in Parsippany, New Jersey, with 18 locations serving areas in northern New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.
Between 1988 and 2006, the company was under the ownership of British retailer Marks & Spencer. In 2009, Kings expanded its portfolio by acquiring the premium grocer Balducci's. Later, in 2016, both Kings and Balducci's were sold by Angelo, Gordon & Co. and MTN Capital Partners to GSSG Capital.
The retailer markets its own line of products through the Kings Own private label.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kings attracted widespread attention for implementing a mask policy that provided masks to customers without one, along with sharing the CEO's contact number.
On August 23, 2020, Kings filed for bankruptcy protection. Subsequently, on October 14, 2020, Albertsons secured the acquisition by placing a $96 million bid.
Following the bankruptcy proceedings, multiple stores were shut down: the Maplewood, New Jersey location—operating since 1942—closed on December 7, 2020; additional closures occurred later that month in Long Hill and Hoboken. On January 15, 2021, Kings announced the shutdown of its Bernardsville and Warren Township outlets, which ceased operations on January 23, 2021.