Bell's Food Stores, which has a location in Jefferson, was recently purchased by B&T Food Fresh Market.
Athens-based Bell's was founded 97 years ago and currently has stores five stores total including in Jefferson, Athens, Lincolnton, Lexington and Watkinsville.
"From our humble beginnings in 1926 at the corner of Washington and Pulaski in downtown Athens, the expansion to Five Points and east Athens, then on to the growing suburban areas of northeast Georgia, Bell's always strived to serve our communities that became part of our family," a statement issued on the company's social media page reads.
"When the thought of passing on our business was first being discussed, the first thing we insisted on preserving was our legacy of making sure we took care of the people that dedicated their time working alongside it."
Bell's said it was approached by B&T Food Fresh Market, which is also based in Georgia.
"The fundamentals of what helped our family-owned business operate for 97 years will not change," the statement said. "You will see gradual changes over time, but the friendly faces of our people, our family, will not."
