Supervalu Inc., Shaw’s Supermarkets parent company has announced that it has plans to lay off at least 700 store workers.

The chain of supermarkets said that this would help it deploy labor more efficiently and reduce expenses. Shaw’s has said that the layoffs will also assist the grocer to make more investments in customer-facing initiatives, make it compete more with greater effectiveness and generally improve its business. Shaw’s has said that the cuts would be done across the 169 store locations in New England that trade under the banners Star Market and Shaw’s.

Shaw’s confirmed that about 90 store-level staff already had been informed, but the rest will be informed in the next few days.

The supermarket has reiterated that the layoffs will not reduce their commitment to ensuring that their customers enjoy a shopping experience that is superior and improved by its local expertise, as well as national strength.

Shaw’s Supermarkets traces its roots back to 1860 and is owned by Supervalu, which is based in Minneapolis. Shaw’s has changed ownership several times and was acquired by Supervalu in 2006. Shaw’s is located in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

There have been buyout talks as Supervalu is said to have offers for the purchase of its subsidiaries. The chain had announced a round of store closures for 60 locations earlier in the year. It operates under a number of retail banners such as: Cub Foods, Shop ‘n’ Save, Shaw’s, Acme Markets, Jewel-Osco, Save-A-Lot, Albertsons and Farm Fresh. The store locations stand at approximately 4,400. It serves 40 states in the U.S. The grocery chain is struggling financially and with buyout talks heating up we will keep track of news in the event of its sale.