News Summary
Winn-Dixie plans to transition three of its Alabama stores to Food City by early November, affecting locations in Fultondale, Trussville, and Jasper. This decision, part of Southeastern Grocers’ strategy for long-term growth, includes a commitment from Food City to hire most of the existing staff. The move aims to enhance service and improve offerings in the area, amidst ongoing changes in the grocery sector following earlier closures in the region. With only two locations remaining in Birmingham, the grocery landscape in Alabama continues to evolve.
Alabama – Winn-Dixie has announced plans to transition three of its Alabama stores to Food City, with the changes set to take place in early November. This transition involves the stores located at 1721 Highway 31 N. in Fultondale, 465 Main St. in Trussville, and 2405 US Highway 78 East in Jasper. The Fultondale location is confirmed to close in early November.
Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, stated that these changes are part of their strategy to ensure long-term growth and sustainability of the business. This move aims to accelerate reinvestment into innovation and the renewal of its store fleet. Food City has stated its intention to hire the majority of the store associates from the transitioning Winn-Dixie locations, which indicates a commitment to maintaining job opportunities for the affected employees.
Food City’s CEO, Steven C. Smith, noted that significant investments would be made in the newly transitioned locations to better meet customer needs. This focus on improving service and offerings comes as Food City aims to establish a stronger presence in Alabama.
This transition follows earlier decisions in 2023 whereby Winn-Dixie closed four locations in three Alabama cities, further reflecting the challenges faced by the grocery chain in the region. In addition, Aldi is in the process of converting 220 Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s stores it acquired, including some locations in Alabama, into its own brand of stores. Aldi also plans to sell about 170 Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s Supermarket stores to another consortium as part of its restructuring efforts.
After the latest transitions, only two Winn-Dixie stores will remain operative in Birmingham, located one in Crestline and another in Inverness off Highway 280. This substantial reduction highlights the shifting landscape of grocery retailers in the state.
Southeastern Grocers has emphasized its commitment to supporting associates who will be affected by the upcoming store changes, ensuring that service quality for customers remains a top priority. Notably, this decision to transition to Food City is not directly related to the ongoing conversion of stores by Aldi.
After these adjustments, the total number of Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama will stand at 33. The company continues to evaluate its locations and business model as it seeks to adapt in a competitive grocery market.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Bham Now: Winn-Dixie Closing 3 Birmingham Locations
- AL.com: Grocery Plans to Close 3 More Alabama Stores
- ABC3340: Winn-Dixie to Divest Three Alabama Stores
- The Sun: Winn-Dixie Store Closure in Alabama
- Mountain Eagle: Winn-Dixie in Jasper Converting to Food City
- Wikipedia: Grocery Store
- Google Search: Winn-Dixie closure
- Google Scholar: Winn-Dixie
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Winn-Dixie
- Google News: Winn-Dixie Alabama
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
