By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – Bruno's Supermarkets will close 20 stores in March, 13 of those in Alabama. The closings will eliminate almost 160 jobs in Jefferson and Shelby Counties and a total of 900 jobs system-wide. More than 20 percent of the grocery chain's employees are in those two counties. Bruno's officials say the company considered demographic shifts, traffic patterns and growth potential when it decided which stores to close. They say most of the targeted stores are under performing and nearing the end of their leases. The closing scome as Bruno's battles growing competition from Wal-Mart Supercenters and Publix stores.