- Aldi has announced plans to acquire Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores.
- The deal includes around 400 stores in the southeast U.S., primarily in Florida. The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024.
- The acquisition will strengthen Aldi’s presence in Florida, where it will compete head-to-head with Publix, the state’s dominant grocery chain.
- Aldi plans to evaluate which acquired stores will be converted into Aldi locations, while others will continue operating under their current banners.
In a bold move that aims to reshape the grocery landscape in the southeast U.S., Aldi has announced plans to acquire Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), the parent company of Jacksonville-headquartered Winn-Dixie, and Harveys Supermarket stores. This acquisition includes approximately 400 stores across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with 75 percent of the stores located in Florida. Additionally, SEG has agreed to sell off its Fresco y Más operations to Fresco Retail Group, LLC.
Aldi, which was the fastest-growing grocery chain last year with a focus on the southeast U.S., will take over SEG’s Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores in an all-cash transaction, encompassing all SEG grocery operations. The price of the sale was not disclosed. According to Aldi CEO Jason Hart, the acquisition supports the company’s long-term growth strategy, including plans to add 120 new stores nationwide this year.
Though Aldi’s presence in Florida is growing rapidly, it is still dwarfed by Lakeland, Florida-based Publix, by far the state’s dominant grocery chain. Winn-Dixie, however, is the second-most visited grocery chain in Florida, meaning Aldi’s acquisition will significantly boost its competitive stance in the region.
“The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills,” Aldi CEO Jason Hart said. “The transaction supports our long-term growth strategy across the United States.”
Following the completion of the sales process, expected to close in the first half of 2024, Aldi will evaluate how best to serve the customers and communities of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets. The company will determine which locations could benefit from converting to the Aldi format. For those stores that are not converted, Aldi intends for them to continue operating as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores.
So .. will Aldi prices go up or Publix prices come down to Earth?
Darn good question Captain !! I love their stores, but live in an Aldi desert.
I’m a Costco member and do a lot of shopping at Walmart but I’m finding that certain things like bread and celery are cheaper every day at Aldi so I’m stopping there regularly now. Also, they often have unadvertised sales on meats so I cruise that section each visit and sometimes get lucky.
Publix is the role model of Florida grocery chains. Honestly hard to imagine that converting Winn Dixie or Harvey’s stores into the Aldi brand is going to represent a significant market share threat to Publix.
Another rebrand/expansion of grocery stores in Florida to compete with Publix (e.g., Sweetbay, Harveys, Albertsons). Remember the overreaction when Amazon bought Whole Foods? How about the overreaction when Walmart Supercenters started selling groceries. Maybe the overreaction to Kroger Delivery coming to Florida. This is just another overreaction to the impact on Publix. Meanwhile, Publix just steadily creeps north and dominates the south because it is simply the best and its core customers are incredibly loyal.