MOULTRIE — A bright pink banner stripped across the front of Moultrie’s Foodmax Thursday evening says it all: “Store Closing.”

One of seven large grocery retailers in Moultrie, including Super Wal-Mart, Foodmax employs 29 people. Most of those will be looking for work elsewhere come March 12, the latest possible closing date. Store manager David Newsome said the store will remain open until most of its merchandise is sold.

Shoppers have one last bargain opportunity with 25 percent discounted merchandise, he said.

Bruno’s Supermarkets, Inc., based in Birmingham, Ala., owns Foodmax. On Thursday, the company announced the closure of 20 of its 168 stores to reduce costs, improve profitability and focus its resources on its strongest markets, a press release said. Closing are five Foodmax stores, one Bruno’s and 14 Food World stores. The Moultrie store is one of four Foodmax stores shutting down in Georgia.

The company and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union will work together to provide assistance to those workers affected by the closings, the release said.

“It is always a difficult decision to close stores, but this decision is necessary to enable Bruno’s to be more competitive across the region we serve and to become a more efficient, effective and focused business,” said Bruce Efird, Bruno’s executive vice president and general manager.

“We appreciate the loyalty of our customers who have supported these stores through the years,” Efird said. “We also wish to thank all of our teammates for their hard work and for the excellent service they have provided to our customers and our communities in these locations. We have a long track record of treating our teammates fairly and are committed to ensuring they receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled.”