German discount grocer Aldi is launching work toward its $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 Company LLC.
The city issued a permit May 5 for a $13.31 million project to renovate 729,209 square feet of space.
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.
A second permit is in review for the other part of the project.
The city has been 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:
• Interior alterations to the existing 729,000-square-foot dry storage and distribution warehouse at $13.31 million. That permit was issued May 5.
• Proposed interior alterations to the existing 391,600-square-foot perishable storage and distribution warehouse at an estimated cost of $21.83 million. That permit was pending May 5.
The city issued a permit March 5 for a fire alarm system alteration at a project cost of $2,400.
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.