ALDI is acquiring Winn-Dixie

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Change is coming for Monticello's Winn-Dixie grocery store on South Jefferson Street, which was established here in 1977 and underwent a major renovation in November of 2021. Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), the parent company of Winn-Dixie as well as Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket, announced in a press release last week that it has “entered into definitive agreements with ALDI and Fresco Retail Group, LLC to effectuate a comprehensive strategic divestiture of its businesses.”
The merger agreement includes approximately 400 stores in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, where 75 percent of the stores are located. This includes the Winn-Dixie located in Monticello, the largest grocery store serving residents of Jefferson County.
Store Manager Shawn Townsend told the Monticello News on Friday evening, Aug. 18, that he is not permitted to make statements about the merger and what it means for local shoppers. He referred the News to SEG's director of communications, Meredith Hurley, who confirmed that interviews of store associates will not be granted at this time.
According to Hurley's statement, “The merger agreement has been approved by the holders of a majority of SEG’s outstanding shares, and the merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024,
See ALDI page 3A
subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. SEG will continue to operate its respective banners and stores in the normal course of business up to and until the transactions are completed.”
Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “Our successful transformational journey has created a unique opportunity with leading partners who share our vision and common commitments to creating value for their customers. We believe these next steps will fuel a phenomenal experience for our customers, new opportunities for our associates and increased value for our shareholders. As the sales processes proceed, we’ll stay acutely focused upon delivering the exceptional quality, service and value that our customers and communities have come to expect from us.”
ALDI is one of America's fastest-growing retailers, with millions of customers across the country. The acquisition of the SEG group continues a trajectory of growth for the company.
“Like ALDI, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket have long histories and many loyal customers in the Southeast and we look forward to serving them in the years to come,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI. “The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills. The transaction supports our long-term growth strategy across the United States, including plans to add 120 new stores nationwide this year to reach a total of more than 2,400 stores by year-end.”
ALDI first established its presence in the Southeast in the mid-1990s and since has invested $2.5 billion in the region. It is a Certified™ Great Place to Work® and one of Forbes’ America’s Best Large Employers. In its press release on the merger, ALDI promised to bring its “employee-focused culture and above-industry-average store associate wages to more markets in the Southeast.”
“ALDI will operate Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores with the same level of care and focus on quality and service, as we also evaluate which locations will convert to the ALDI format to better support the neighborhoods we’ll now have the privilege of serving,” added Hart. “For those stores we do not convert, our intention is that these continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores.”
It appears that residents of Jefferson County can expect their shopping experience at the Monticello Winn-Dixie to continue as usual into 2024, even as changes are taking place at a corporate level. After that, it will remain to be seen if the red banner of Winn-Dixie will stay on the local store or be replaced with the blue banner and format of ALDI.