CHATTANOOGA (AP) — The closing of 25 Food Lion grocery stores in Tennessee and greatly reducing operations at a distribution center in Clinton is displacing about 1,100 workers.

Food Lion spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown said a severance package is being offered to eligible employees affected by the parent company's decision to close underperforming stores.

Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize said Thursday it is cutting almost 5,000 jobs in the United States as it closes some Food Lion, Bloom and Bottom Dollar Food stores within the next 30 days.

Phillips-Brown said 32 Food Lion stores with about 1,300 employees in Tennessee will continue operating.

The closings in Tennessee include some stores in the Chattanooga area, Cleveland, Knoxville, Clinton, Crossville, Maryville, Morristown, Sevierville, Clarksville, Hendersonville, Lewisburg, Murfreesboro, Old Hickory, Smyrna, Sparta, Greeneville and Johnson City.