A newly formed Alabama company is buying grocery stores owned by Birmingham-based Southern Family Markets.

Belle Foods LLC will take over 57 stores in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama, including the Piggly Wiggly in Athens. Other chains operated by Southern Family Markets include Bruno’s and Southern Family Market stores.

Terms of the transaction have not yet been disclosed.

Officials with Belle Foods, formed by industry veteran Bill White, said it plans to offer jobs to current grocery store employees and work with unions. White will serve as president and chief executive officer of the company, which will have its headquarters in Birmingham.

“We are very excited about this acquisition and look forward with great anticipation to growing this business, being strong partners in the communities we will serve, and bringing back the family-owned roots, which have always made these stores so special,” White said in a statement.