AutoZone to Close 30 to 60 Stores

AutoZone Inc. said Sunday it plans to shut down 30 to 60 stores nationally in the next few months as part of a review of stores that are not meeting performance standards.

Company officials did not identify the troubled stores. They said they did not expect many layoffs.

The company also is trying to decide what to do with 49 heavy-duty truck supply stores that make up its TruckPro subsidiary, which was acquired in 1998.

“It’s been a good business for us, but it is not as profitable as AutoZone is,” said Emma Jo Kauffman, vice president of investor relations.

Possibilities for TruckPro include restructuring or selling it to management, she said.

AutoZone operates more than 3,000 stores in 42 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. On Friday, its shares fell 22 cents at $33.55 on the New York Stock Exchange.