After the parent company of Winn-Dixie emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in 2018, it was inevitable that the company’s private equity owners would eventually seek to sell their stake.
It finally happened in August 2023 when Aldi agreed to buy Southeastern Grocers Inc., the Jacksonville-based operator of the Winn-Dixie, Harveys and Fresco y Mas supermarket chains.
Aldi will take over about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, while the 28 Fresco y Mas stores will be sold to another investment company.
Aldi, with U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, has about 2,400 U.S. stores.
According to the Aldi website, Florida is its biggest U.S. market with 216 stores.
That includes 11 in the Jacksonville metropolitan area.
The company said it will convert some of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores to Aldi, but it has not announced details about specific locations.
Aldi and Southeastern Grocers are both privately owned companies, so they did not announce financial terms of the buyout.
Southeastern Grocers’ most recent financial disclosure came just before it called off an initial public offering in January 2021. That filing said the company expected to report about $8 billion in sales for 2020.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2024.
Here is a look at some of the biggest deals and people who made headlines in 2023.
Top Deals:
Cosentino Group plans $270 million first phase of manufacturing plant. Story here
Phoenix Arts & Innovation District launches in New Springfield. Story here
Blackwater Development says it has Regency Square Mall deal. Story here
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club wins approval to start expansion, renovations. Story here
ICE finalizes its $11.9 billion acquisition of Black Knight Inc. Story here
‘Stadium of the Future’ plans are unveiled by the Jaguars. Story here
Gateway Jax plans $500 million Downtown project in NorthCore. Story here
Regency Centers buys Urstadt Biddle in $1.4 billion deal. Story here
Top Newsmakers:
Donna Deegan makes history as Jacksonville’s first female mayor. Story here
Bryan Moll poised to help revitalize Downtown with Gateway Jax. Story here
Nick Allard guides JU College of Law toward new Downtown campus. Story here
Aundra Wallace an assured but low-key leader in region’s growth. Story here
Suzanne Pickett: Advocate for city’s Historic Eastside. Story here
Obituaries of 2023:
Activist and community advocate Ben Frazier. Story here
Beaver Street Fisheries Chairman Hans ‘Harry’ Frisch. Story here
Civic leader and insurance executive Marvin Cecil 'Ceree' Harden III. Story here
Top Deals:
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club wins approval to start expansion, renovations. Story here
ICE finalizes its $11.9 billion acquisition of Black Knight Inc. Story here
‘Stadium of the Future’ plans are unveiled by the Jaguars. Story here
Gateway Jax plans $500 million Downtown project in NorthCore. Story here
Regency Centers buys Urstadt Biddle in $1.4 billion deal. Story here
Top Newsmakers:
Donna Deegan makes history as Jacksonville’s first female mayor. Story here
Bryan Moll poised to help revitalize Downtown with Gateway Jax. Story here
Nick Allard guides JU College of Law toward new Downtown campus. Story here
Aundra Wallace an assured but low-key leader in region’s growth. Story here
Obituaries of 2023:
Activist and community advocate Ben Frazier. Story here
Beaver Street Fisheries Chairman Hans ‘Harry’ Frisch. Story here
Civic leader and insurance executive Marvin Cecil 'Ceree' Harden III. Story here