The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P), announced last week that it will close 14 of its stores in four states, according to an A&P press release.

A&P is the parent company of 336 retail banner stores in the mid-Atlantic region. Such stores include Food Basics, Superfresh and Pathmark. 

Elizabeth Nicholson, a spokesperson with A&P, confirmed that the Pathmark store in the Marketplace at Huntingdon Valley in Upper Moreland, will be among the 14 store closures.

The announcement comes after the grocery company filed for bankruptcy in December of 2010.

As reported in a previous Patch article, dated Dec. 2, 2011, A&P employees, working through their labor unions, did accept wage cuts in order to avoid the liquidation of the company.

Nicholson said it is not yet clear how the close will affect current employees of the Huntingdon Valley Pathmark, nor will A&P release the exact number of employees at that location.

In the press release, A&P did say that it will work to facilitate future store assignments for employees, based on the associates’ collective bargaining agreements.

 “While this was a very difficult decision that will unfortunately impact some of our customers, partners, associates and the surroundings communities, these actions are absolutely necessary as we continue to strengthen A&P’s operating foundation and improve our performance,” A&P president and chief executive officer Sam Martin said in the release.

According to supermarketnews.com, the Pathmark store in Upper Moreland is the only A&P retail banner store to close in Pennsylvania. Store closures will take place during the company’s first fiscal quarter, which begins Feb. 26.

The closest A&P store near Huntingdon Valley is the SuperFresh, located in Southampton.