Hand-sanitizing machines and big bins with masks and gloves surround shoppers at the regional grocery store.

Speculation has focused on Woolworths buying a small regional grocery chain in a high-growth U.S. market such as California.

Its stores include convenience stores, natural food products stores, ethnic markets, national retailers and regional grocery chains across the United States.

In late 2011, Bi-Lo agreed to buy Winn-Dixie Stores for around $560 million to merge two Southern regional grocery chains.