GROVELAND, Fla. – Community members and local leaders are reacting to what many are calling a devastating economic blow after Kroger announced it will close its Groveland fulfillment facility — a move officials say will eliminate roughly 1,400 jobs and end a delivery service relied on by customers across Central Florida.

The announcement came this week as Kroger revealed plans to close three of its delivery fulfillment centers nationwide.

[WATCH: Kroger ending delivery in Florida, closing Lake County fulfillment center]

The Groveland site, one of Lake County’s largest employers, opened in 2019 after a $55 million investment and initially promised hundreds of jobs. Officials from the company did not give an exact date when the facility would close, but said delivery service would en

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