Shaw's Supermarkets has announced it is closing its stores on Franklin Street in Westerly and on Diamond Hill Road in Woonsocket, along with four Massachusetts stores, one each in Fall River, Fairhaven, Stoughton and Taunton.
A news release from a Shaw's and Star Market spokesman made the announcement, saying the stores would close by Aug. 3.
"The stores identified have not been profitable for quite some time, and despite the best efforts of the company and our associates, we have not been able to reposition them to better compete in the marketplace and don't anticipate being able to change this trend," spokesman Steven Sylven said in the e-mail.
"While the decision to close a store is always difficult -- given the impact on associates and customers -- it was made only after careful evaluation and was guided by what is best for the company's ongoing success and future growth."
The move leaves eight Shaw's stores in Rhode Island, Sylven said.