A&P returned to chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sunday with plans for a series of sales to its competitors.

Acme Markets, Inc., The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC, and Key Food Stores Co-operative, Inc. are proposed as lead bidders for some of the grocery chain's stores, court papers say. The offers will be tested at a bankruptcy auction.

The filing is the second in less than five years for A&P, which is based in Montvale, N.J.

A&P operates in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland under the A&P, Best Cellars, Food Basics, Food Emporium, Pathmark, Superfresh and Waldbaum's brands.

Write to Peg Brickley at peg.brickley@wsj.com

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