by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. will close one of its three SaveRite stores in Jacksonville this fall and convert the other two into conventional Winn-Dixie stores, the company said Thursday.
In a statement, the company said it “made the difficult but necessary decision” to close the SaveRite at 5134 Firestone Road, saying that the location “does not meet our standards for competitiveness.” No specific date was available.
It said it hopes to place as many of the employees from the store as possible in other locations, although “we cannot guarantee it will be in the same job role.”
The other two SaveRite locations in Jacksonville — at 1012 Edgewood Ave. and 201 W. 48th St. — will convert to the Winn-Dixie format.
Winn-Dixie said it will convert all remaining six SaveRite grocery stores in the system into conventional Winn-Dixie stores and discontinue the SaveRite banner. The other four SaveRites are in Orlando, Tampa, Hattiesburg, Miss., and Laurel, Miss.
“Phasing out the SaveRite banner makes sense and supports Winn-Dixie’s neighborhood marketing strategy,” said Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie chairman, president and CEO.
“By aligning all 484 stores under one Winn-Dixie banner, we will be able to ensure a more consistent shopping experience for all of our guests, regardless of the type of neighborhood in which we operate,” he said.
The conversion will take about four months and be completed in the fall, said Winn-Dixie. The stores will remain open to shoppers throughout the conversion. Staff will remain as Winn-Dixie employees.
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