Southeastern Grocers plans to sell or close 40 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets in a bid to exit markets outside of Florida and focus on the Sunshine State.
Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern also said it will be rebranding early next year, changing its name to operate as Winn-Dixie Co., a business with a 100-year-old history.
Southeastern plans to home in on and expand in its base of Florida and shut stores in four other Southern states "in service of its strategic refocus to fuel long-term growth," according to the company. It has reached agreements to sell or is advancing plans with multiple grocers for 32 Winn-Dixie stores and eight Harveys Supermarkets, in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Southeastern said, however, that it will continue to serve southern Georgia with stores in Brunswick, Folkston, Lake Park, St. Simons Island and Valdosta.
The U.S. grocery sector is competitive and ever-changing, with regional chains such as Winn-Dixie battling it out against giants Amazon and Walmart, discount supermarket chains Aldi and Lidl, and a variety of other players such as Kroger, Albertsons and Whole Foods Market.
Some new operators
Southeastern released a list of the 40 stores slated to be divested or closed, and only seven of them have new operators officially lined up so far.
Food City is slated to take over three Alabama Winn-Dixie stores. Piggly Wiggly will take control of a Harveys in Georgia and a Winn-Dixie in Alabama. And Super 1 Foods will become the new operator of two Winn-Dixie locations in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Any store closings are expected to be completed by the end of the year, with all banner transitions anticipated by early next year.
Earlier this year a group that included Southeastern's senior leadership, C&S Wholesale Grocers and private investors acquired around 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores from Aldi. It had purchased about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores in March 2024, converting some to its own banner.
“For a century, Winn-Dixie has proudly called Florida home," Anthony Hucker, Southeastern chairman and CEO, said in a statement this week. "As we enter our next century as the Winn-Dixie Co. — a brand-new 100-year-old company — we are accelerating growth where our roots run deepest while staying true to our purpose of feeding and enriching the communities, families and neighbors who have supported us for generations.”
Hucker will remain as chairman and CEO of Winn-Dixie Co.
Buying Hitchcock's
The grocer also plans to expand its presence in North Florida through targeted acquisitions. As part of its growth strategy, Southeastern said it has finalized an agreement to acquire Hitchcock’s Markets in Alachua, Keystone Heights and Williston. These stores will be converted to Winn-Dixie and opened in phases beginning late 2025, expanding the chain's North Florida footprint.
The new Williston Winn-Dixie, located at 434 E. Noble Ave., is expected to open in early December, ahead of the scheduled closing of the nearby Winn-Dixie at 727 W. Noble Ave. Associates from the nearby Williston location will have the opportunity to continue serving customers in the new store. The Alachua and Keystone Heights Winn-Dixie stores are slated to open by summer 2026.
Following those transactions, Southeastern will have roughly 130 conventional grocery stores and 140 freestanding and grocery-adjacent liquor stores.
Dozens of remodels and new-store projects are both planned and already underway, aimed at better reflecting the needs of local customers. The grocer said it is also expanding its liquor store portfolio with innovative formats, growing its award-winning Own Brand product assortment.
For the record
In the sale transaction, Food Partners served as financial and strategic adviser to Southeastern Grocers.