Independent grocery chains affiliated with the Centrella cooperative are in negotiations to buy as many as 10 Dominick’s stores, sources familiar with the talks said.

Grocers affiliated with Centrella, the brand name used by Joliet-based Central Grocers Inc., are looking to purchase stores as a group in both the city and suburbs, sources said. It’s unclear which Dominick’s locations Centrella would buy on behalf of its member firms.

The group has hired food industry investment banker David Schoeder to negotiate the package deal with Dominick’s parent, Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway Inc., which announced it would leave the Chicago market.  Read the entire Crains Chicago Business article here.