Winn-Dixie is marking its 100th anniversary with a message: The grocery chain is here to stay.
The company traces its roots to 1925, when founder W.M. Davis opened his first store in Miami at the encouragement of his brother Carl.
Davis had previously owned a general store in Idaho, but a recession brought debt. Seeking opportunity, he relocated to Florida, where his new venture took hold.
The company moved its headquarters to Jacksonville in 1944 and expanded across the Southeast. By 2001, Winn-Dixie operated more than 1,100 stores across five Southern states and the Bahamas.
Another round of financial struggles then ensued. The chain filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and closed hundreds of stores over the following years. Southeastern Grocers was formed in 2012 to stabilize and rebuild the business.
The chain was sold to German grocer Aldi in March 2024.
Less than a year later, Feb. 7, 2025, a consortium of private investors – led by CEO Anthony Hucker – acquired Southeastern Grocers.
The deal included about 170 Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, along with the chain’s liquor store business.
In a Sept. 15 statement, Southeastern Grocers said the decision to buy the stores from Aldi was “driven by a deep belief in the company’s potential and our commitment to our longstanding heritage.”
Aldi is moving forward with plans to convert about 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to its own brand by 2027.
That transition is creating confusion, with many customers assuming Winn-Dixie is disappearing, said Shawn Sloan, regional vice president of Southeastern Grocers.
“People think Winn-Dixie is going away. I see it on social media,” Sloan said.
“But we’re not going anywhere. We’re learning from the past and building for the future.”
Sloan has been with the company 41 years.
Positioning for the future
Sloan said Southeastern Grocers planned to build on the company’s brand by investing in providing personal service, including by retaining its in-store bakers and meat-cutters, while other chains pare back on those offerings.
According to its website, SEG provides development programs for employees, including scholarships, GED completion programs and summer internships.
Against national chains and larger regional companies, Sloan said, Winn-Dixie’s size gives it agility to make decisions and respond to industry changes, but also comes with challenges.
“As a smaller company, you have to monitor your capital closely,” he said.
“That means carefully managing working capital to invest in the right areas at the right time. Larger companies can negotiate better pricing through volume.”
Innovation with a human touch
Sloan said technology is changing the grocery industry, especially behind the scenes.
“When I think about the ways technology will shape our industry, two areas immediately come to mind: robotics and artificial intelligence,” he said.
“These are powerful tools for optimizing workforces and streamlining repetitive tasks, particularly in areas like warehousing. They are also highly effective for cost management and operational efficiency.”
Like others in the industry, the grocer is also leaning on its mobile app to boost consumer convenience and savings. Customers can earn rewards, access special offers and digital coupons and use tools like aisle locators to find products.
As technology creates efficiencies for companies, such as AI that examines inventory and allows grocers to fine-tune decisions on the type and amount of products to stock, Sloan says it can’t replace humans in providing customer service.
“Some customers prefer online shopping, but others want the tactile experience,” he said. “They want to see, touch and interact with products and staff in person.”
That philosophy guides Winn-Dixie’s approach to in-store services.
“You can walk up to the counter and ask for a custom cut of meat or a personalized cake,” Sloan said.
“That level of service is part of what sets us apart, and it’s something technology can’t replace.”
Competing in a crowded field
The rise of e-commerce, aggressive competition from big-box retailers with grocery operations and changing consumer habits have reshaped grocery shopping.
Publix, founded in 1930 and with more than 1,400 stores, has steadily expanded its dominance across Florida and in seven other states.
Walmart and Target continue to use scale to undercut prices. Even dollar stores have grown their grocery offerings in recent years.
Sloan said Winn-Dixie’s focus is not on being everything to everyone — it’s flexing where the company knows it can deliver.
“We know our customers, and we listen to them,” he said.
“They tell us what a store should look like. So we’re investing — whether it’s remodels, new stores or liquor stores. We’re paying attention, and we’re acting on what our customers tell us. A store in Miami can’t operate like a store in Jacksonville. They are different. They want different products. They have different cultures.”
In a statement, SEG said it was updating several Florida stores.
Its St. Cloud location is undergoing a full remodel, set to reopen by the end of the year. Its Holly Hill store north of Daytona Beach recently added new deli options and energy-efficient frozen food cases. In St. Augustine, a planned refresh will update the deli, produce, meat, seafood and wine departments and add in-house-made sushi.
Looking ahead
As Winn-Dixie steps into its second century, Sloan said the company is drawing on its history while focusing on the future.
“Winn-Dixie is entwined within the Southeast, and that continues today — our customers will say, ‘This is my store,’” he said.
“The constant has always been our people and our connection to the communities we serve. The grocery business will keep changing, whether it’s technology, consumer trends or competition. But our customers still value something that can’t be replaced: human connection. That’s what will carry us into the next 100 years.”
SEG said it is exploring potential locations for new stores and will disclose more information as details become final.