SCHNUCKS BIDS TO BUY NATIONAL

Schnucks Markets announced Monday a bid to buy National Supermarkets subject to Federal Trade Commission approval.

Schnucks and National operate stores in Cape Girardeau. Managers of both stores here said impact of the transaction is unknown.

Jim Sturm, manager of National Del-Farm, said: "It's business as usual. We will stay open and continue serving our customers. As time progresses, I'm sure more will be told to me and the employees."

Del-Farm employs 65 people in Cape Girardeau.

A news release from National Supermarkets said the company expects to serve customers into April.

Dennis Marchi, manager of Schnucks here, said he doesn't know what will happen in Cape Girardeau as a result of the purchase. "It's in the hands of the government now," he said of the FTC's consideration.

Schnucks hopes to acquire 60 National stores. Included are National's 53 St. Louis-area stores plus stores in Cape Girardeau, Rolla, Hannibal, Carbondale, Ill., Springfield, Ill, and Litchfield, Ill.

Schnucks officials expect the FTC to require National to sell some stores to other companies.

The National stores are owned by Toronto-based Loblaw Companies Limited of Canada. As part of the same transaction, 29 National stores in the New Orleans area would be purchased by Schwegmann's Giant Super Markets Inc., a family-owned chain.

In fiscal 1994, gross revenues of Loblaw's St. Louis and New Orleans divisions totaled just over $1 billion. They employ 11,000 people.

Schnucks Markets, founded in St. Louis in 1939, is a family-owned regional supermarket company that operates 64 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kansas. The firm posted gross revenues in excess of $1 billion in 1994 and employs 9,500 people.

Schnucks expects to hire a significant number of National's employees, Craig D. Schnuck, chairman and chief executive officer of Schnucks Markets, said in a news release.

Schnucks will honor National's request not to contact any National employees until 15 days after the transaction receives preliminary FTC approval, the news release said.

As soon as permissible, National employees will be informed of times and places to apply for positions with Schnucks, the release said.

Schnucks is also negotiating to offer customers the President's Choice line of products, National's store label.