German discount grocer Aldi wants to launch a $35.1 million renovation at the Baldwin distribution center it will lease as it expands throughout the Southeast after acquiring more than 200 stores from what is now The Winn-Dixie Co.
Aldi, with U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, proposes to renovate 1.12 million square feet of storage and distribution space at the 15500 W. Beaver St. facility in West Jacksonville.
The city is reviewing two permit applications for A M Construction Co. LLC to renovate the perishable and dry goods storage and distribution facilities. The contractor is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based A M King, a design-build firm focused on the food processing, food distribution and cold storage, industrial and corporate markets.
The Baldwin projects comprise:
• Proposed interior alterations to the existing 391,600-square-foot perishable storage and distribution warehouse at an estimated cost of $21.83 million.
• Proposed interior alterations to the existing 729,000-square-foot dry storage and distribution warehouse at an estimated cost of $13.31 million.
Aldi confirmed Jan. 16 that it plans a distribution center in the former C&S Wholesale Services facility to support its nationwide expansion.
Aldi Regional Vice President JR Perry said by email the center is planned at West Beaver Street where C&S Grocers leased a 1.2 million-square-foot facility on 200 acres.
C&S Wholesale Services, also called C&S Wholesale Grocers, closed that center in July 2025.
Perry said Aldi had “begun transitioning the Baldwin distribution center.”
The center serviced Winn-Dixie, which Aldi acquired as part of its purchase of the store’s parent company, Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers, in 2024, now rebranded The Winn-Dixie Company.
In 2025, Aldi sold back about 170 stores to Southeastern Grocers after the company was acquired by a consortium of private investors, including C&S.
C&S began working with Winn-Dixie in 2013 when the grocer merged with Greenville, South Carolina-based Bi-Lo Holdings to form Southeastern Grocers. C&S had worked with Bi-Lo since 2005.
Aldi's ‘rapid national growth’
“As Aldi accelerates its rapid national growth, with plans to open more than 180 new stores in 31 states in 2026 alone, we are committed to scaling our infrastructure to meet increasing customer demand,” Perry said.
“As part of this expansion, we have begun transitioning the Baldwin distribution center to better support our mission of offering high-quality products at the lowest prices of any national grocery store,” he said.
“We are making significant investments to upgrade this facility, with plans to open its doors in 2027. This expansion will not only enhance our supply chain capabilities but also create hundreds of new jobs with competitive pay and benefits, further strengthening our presence and positive contributions to the local community.”
In April 2025, C&S Wholesale Services notified the state and Baldwin that it was closing, eliminating about 490 employees.
The Baldwin distribution center is one of three announced by Aldi Jan. 12, with others being a Goodyear, Arizona, center planned for 2028 and an Aurora, Colorado, center projected for 2029.
The Amkingroup.com site says its Aldi projects include the 256,000-square-foot corporate campus renovation and amenities building in Batavia, Illinois; property consulting for a regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley, Alabama; work on the Dinwiddie County, Virginia, regional headquarters and distribution center; work on the Royal Palm Beach dry warehousing, cold storage and office space; work on the Jefferson, Georgia, distribution center; and design and construction of the food distribution and cold storage facility in South Windsor, Connecticut.
More stores opening
Aldi said it plans to open more than 180 stores by the end of 2026, including expansion into Colorado. Its goal is 3,200 stores by the end of 2028.
In Northeast Florida, Aldi Regional Vice President Matt Thon said Feb. 5 that four more former Southeastern Grocers stores are reopening after conversion into the discount banner.
The next to open will be the former Winn-Dixie at 2220 County Road 210 W., Suite 20, in Saint Johns.
Aldi scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Feb. 26, followed by the store opening.
Three more Jacksonville stores are expected to open by the summer, Thon said.
Those are two former Winn-Dixie stores at 1531 Monument Road and 12777 Atlantic Blvd. in East Arlington and a former Harveys Supermarket Downtown at 777 N. Market St.
Aidi-Winn-Dixie dealings
Southeastern Grocers sold 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi to German retailer Aldi in March 2024.
In February 2025, a consortium of private investors led by Southeastern CEO Anthony Hucker acquired Southeastern Grocers from Aldi in a deal that included about 170 Winn-Dixie stores in those five states, along with the chain’s liquor store business.
It has since sold more stores to other retailers and said it will focus on its home state.
Aldi has acquired at least 14 Northeast Florida stores from Southeastern Grocers for conversion. Aldi had 13 stores before the purchase.
Aldi now has at least 20 stores open in Northeast Florida. With the next four and another identified for conversion in West Jacksonville, it is catching up to Winn-Dixie.
Winn-Dixie.com shows at least 28 stores in Northeast Florida, including three liquor stores and one supermarket that has been identified for Aldi.