ROCKLAND, Mass. – Tedeschi Food Shops Inc. President Charles Fitzgibbons says his company's planned acquisition of The Store 24 Inc., announced late Tuesday evening, represents a "perfect fit" in more than just geographical terms. While preparing to close the deal – which would create the second-largest chain in Massachusetts, behind Cumberland Farms -- by the end of April, Fitzgibbons said he believe the combination can reap rewards for both chains on a number of fronts.

"It brings to us a top-quality company in this industry," Fitzgibbons told CSP Daily News. "We are both in the greater Boston, eastern Massachusetts market, but Store 24 has always been an urban operation, whereas we have been a suburban operation, so there is very little overlap. But at the same time, the economies of scale are there because we are in the same market. It's a darn good fit."