Winn-Dixie's Second Century: A Grocer's Bold Florida-Focused Rebirth

JACKSONVILLE, FL – December 29, 2025 – As Southeastern Grocers (SEG) closes the chapter on its centennial year, the company is embarking on its most significant transformation in decades. In early 2026, the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket will officially evolve into 'The Winn-Dixie Company,' a strategic rebranding that coincides with a sharpened focus on its core markets of Florida and Southern Georgia. This move marks a deliberate pivot, trading geographic breadth for regional depth as the storied grocer positions itself for its next 100 years.

The transition follows a whirlwind period of corporate restructuring. In a surprising turn of events, a consortium of private investors, led by current Chairman and CEO Anthony Hucker and in partnership with C&S Wholesale Grocers, reacquired SEG in February 2025. This buy-back occurred less than a year after the company was purchased by discount grocer ALDI U.S. in a deal completed in March 2024. The reacquisition has empowered the leadership team to chart a new, more concentrated course, leveraging the deep-rooted brand equity of Winn-Dixie.

Redrawing the Grocery Map

The strategic refocus involves a significant reshaping of the company's footprint. The new Winn-Dixie Company is divesting a total of 40 stores across Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Georgia that fall outside its new strategic zone. This includes 32 Winn-Dixie locations and eight Harveys Supermarkets. These divestitures and associated store closures are slated for completion by the end of 2025, streamlining operations dramatically.

Following this consolidation, The Winn-Dixie Company will operate a leaner but more focused network of approximately 130 conventional grocery stores and 140 freestanding and grocery-adjacent liquor stores. The company is not abandoning Georgia entirely but is concentrating its efforts in the southern part of the state, maintaining its presence in key communities such as Valdosta, Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Lake Park, and Folkston.

This contraction is coupled with targeted expansion within its core Florida market. The company recently acquired three Hitchcock's Markets in Williston, Alachua, and Keystone Heights. The Williston location opened as a new Winn-Dixie earlier this month, replacing a nearby store, while the Alachua and Keystone Heights stores are scheduled to open under the Winn-Dixie banner by summer 2026. This simultaneous divestment and investment strategy underscores a clear goal: dominate its home turf by reinvesting resources where its brand recognition and market penetration are strongest.

A Legacy of Community and Quality

While the corporate structure is changing, the company's leadership emphasizes that its commitment to community and value remains central to its identity. Throughout its 100th anniversary year in 2025, SEG demonstrated this commitment with over $2.8 million in community donations to support hunger relief, disaster recovery, and local initiatives. This philanthropic effort earned the company significant accolades, including recognition from Forbes as one of the 'Best Brands for Social Impact.'

This year of celebration was also a year of validation, as the grocer amassed 69 national industry awards. USA Today recognized it as one of 'America's Best Stores,' while Newsweek named it one of the 'Most Trustworthy Companies in America.' Its customer loyalty program was celebrated for the fifth consecutive year by both publications, highlighting a strong connection with its shopper base that will be critical for its new, more concentrated strategy.

A key pillar of its value proposition is its robust 'Own Brand' product line. These private-label goods, which offer customers savings of over 20% compared to national brands, collected 49 industry awards in 2025 for quality and innovation. The success of these products is a testament to the company's ability to compete on both price and quality, a crucial advantage in the hyper-competitive grocery sector.

Modernizing for the Next Century

The evolution into The Winn-Dixie Company is not merely a nostalgic nod to its past but a forward-looking strategy aimed at modernizing the customer experience. The company has announced plans for significant investments in store remodels, designed to create brighter, more contemporary shopping environments. This initiative will be complemented by an expansion of its liquor store portfolio, which will see the introduction of new and innovative store formats.

To better serve the modern consumer, the company is also piloting new conveniences. These include expanded partnerships with third-party online grocery delivery services and the installation of in-store kiosks for easy returns, addressing key demands for flexibility and efficiency in the retail experience.

In a move that perfectly blends heritage with future plans, the company announced the much-anticipated return of its iconic 'Lip Lickin' Chicken' in early 2026. This beloved brand staple, a favorite for generations of shoppers, symbolizes the new company's approach: leveraging a century of cherished history to build a stronger, more resilient, and customer-focused grocer for the future. By trimming its geographic reach, The Winn-Dixie Company is making a calculated bet that a deeper connection to its most loyal communities is the key to thriving in its second century.