On the record · Other
Fred's
Alden Global Capital reported beneficial ownership of 24.8% of Fred's shares in December 2016. Alden president Heath Freeman was later listed as the retailer's board chairman. Fred's filed Chapter 11 on September 9, 2019 and announced liquidation sales at all retail locations, with closures then expected within 60 days.
Research depth
Outcomes researched
Reviewed operating findings or a classified operating outcome are available.
Record updated Oct. 11, 2026
Current ownership
Current owner not established
This record does not identify a current owner. That absence is a gap in the record, not a conclusion about ownership.
Ownership and transaction history
Chronology from recorded ownership periods, transactions and reviewed outcome events. Event order does not imply causation.
Oct. 30, 2019
Operations ceased
Operating outcome
What happened under and after ownership
Operating outcome
No longer meaningfully operating
Filed Chapter 11 on September 9, 2019, and, after abandoning an earlier plan to downsize to about 80 stores, moved to liquidate entirely; all remaining stores had ceased operations by October 30, 2019.
No revival or new owner has been announced; the Fred's brand and stores have not reopened.
- Founded
- 1947
- Peak headcount
- 9,106
- Sponsor at closure
- Alden Global Capital
- SEC (Fred's Inc Schedule 13D/A, Alden Global Capital LLC, company/filer primary) · 2018 · Alden Global Capital LLC's reported stake of 34.9% (13,000,000 shares) of Fred's Inc as of the final 13D amendment before the 2019 bankruptcy
- SEC (Fred's Inc DEF 14A proxy statement, company primary) · 2018 · Heath Freeman listed as Chairman of the Board, joined August 29, 2017, identified as President and a founding member of Alden Global Capital LLC
- SEC (Fred's Inc FY2017 10-K, company primary) · founded 1947; peak of 596 total locations (584 company-owned including 48 Xpress plus 12 franchised) and 9,106 employees (4,138 full-time, 4,968 part-time) as o
- Wikipedia · September 9, 2019 Chapter 11 filing; all stores required to cease operations by October 30, 2019; delisted from NASDAQ September 18, 2019
Sources and evidence
Other recorded sources
Public provenance attached to an entity, ownership or bankruptcy record.
- R1Fred's, Inc., Form 10-K/A for fiscal year ended February 2, 2019
Fred's, Inc., filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · SEC filing · Retrieved Oct. 11, 2026
Supports: Entity record
- R2Fred's, Inc., Schedule 13D by Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC, Alden Global Capital LLC and Heath Freeman
Reporting investment parties, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · SEC filing · Retrieved Oct. 11, 2026
Supports: Entity record
- R3Fred’s Commences Voluntary Chapter 11 Proceedings
Fred's, Inc., press release filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 99.1 · SEC filing · Sept. 9, 2019
Supports: Entity record
What we do not know
These are gaps in the public record, not findings about the organization.
- No current public ownership assessment has been published.
Help improve this record
Firsthand experience, public sources and corrections can help close the gaps above.