Aldi acquires Winn-Dixie stores amid fast growth in Florida
The German supermarket chain is focusing on building a presence in the southeast U.S.

By Bernadette Berdychowski
Tampa Bay Times
Published: Aug 16, 2023

German supermarket chain Aldi is growing quickly in the southeast U.S. — and not just by building new stores, but now through a major acquisition.

Aldi announced that is taking over Southeastern Grocer’s Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores, according to a press release Wednesday morning. The acquisition will add about 400 stores across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The price of the sale was not disclosed.

Aldi said it will evaluate which stores will be converted into Aldi locations. Others will continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2024, the grocer said.

“The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills,” stated Aldi CEO Jason Hart. “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 was the fastest-growing grocery chain last year with a focus on the southeast U.S. with high inflation pinching consumer wallets, according to commercial real estate firm JLL. But competition is steep in Florida with Publix’s dominance. Aldi grew by 1.87 million square feet, while Publix added 1.2 million square feet in 2022.

By visits, Publix dominates in Florida with more than 600 million visits and Aldi is the fourth-most popular grocery chain in the state at 43 million, according to JLL. But what is the second-most visited grocery chain in Florida? It’s Winn-Dixie.

The deal is part of Southeastern Grocer’s divestment of all its stores, the Jacksonville-based grocery company announced Wednesday. While Aldi gets Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores, the 28 Fresco y Más stores will be under Fresco Retail Group, LLC, an investment group focusing on food and retail.

“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,” said Southeastern Grocer’s CEO Anthony Hucker in a statement. “We believe these next steps will fuel a phenomenal experience for our customers, new opportunities for our associates and increased value for our shareholders.”

Bernadette Berdychowski is a reporter covering local business. She can be reached at bberdychowski@tampabay.com.