RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kroger has announced it will exit the Raleigh-Durham market.

• Kroger will close all its Triangle locations by August.
• Eight of the 14 stores will become Harris Teeter stores.
• 1,500 employees are affected.

“After a thorough evaluation of the market for a significant time period, we have decided to close our stores in the highly competitive Raleigh-Durham market,” said Jerry Clontz, president of the Mid-Atlantic Division of Kroger. “While we have had some success, we have not been able to grow our business the way we would like in this market.

In all, 14 stores are affected but eight locations will become Harris Teeter stores. Those stores are:

• 202 W. NC Hwy 54, Durham
• 3457 Hillsborough Rd., Durham
• 5116 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham
• 1273 N.W. Maynard Rd., Cary
• 8345 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh
• 940 US Hwy 64, Apex
• 1802 North Point Dr., Durham
• 1371 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina

In addition, a gym will acquire the store at 6300 Creedmoor Road in Raleigh and Food Lion will acquire the store at 7905 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh.

The remaining four Kroger locations will close permanently.

The closings will impact approximately 1,500 associates, of which more than half are part-time.

“Helping them [associates] through this transition is our number one priority,” said Clontz. “We’re making every effort to assist our associates in finding employment. We will offer job fairs and job placement services to associates.”

Kroger will continue to operate stores across the country including Virginia and Tennessee.