Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG) is an American omnichannel supermarket company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, serving as the parent entity for the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket brands.^[1] It operates grocery and liquor stores across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, alongside online grocery delivery services, emphasizing quality products, value, and community engagement.^[1] As one of the largest conventional supermarket operators in the United States, SEG employs approximately 40,000 associates and focuses on regional brands with longstanding neighborhood ties.^[2] In October 2025, the company announced a strategic rebranding to The Winn-Dixie Company, effective early 2026, which includes divesting non-core stores to concentrate operations on about 130 grocery locations and 140 liquor stores primarily in Florida and southern Georgia.^[3] Founded in 2013, Southeastern Grocers emerged as a portfolio to consolidate regional supermarket operations, building on the histories of its flagship brands.^[2] Winn-Dixie traces its origins to 1925, when it began as a small chain in Florida and expanded across the Southeast, becoming known for affordable groceries and community involvement.^[1] Harveys Supermarket, established nearly a century ago by Iris and J.M. Harvey, has maintained a strong presence in Florida and Georgia, prioritizing fresh produce and local partnerships.^[1] Over the years, SEG has navigated financial challenges, including a 2018 bankruptcy reorganization that strengthened its balance sheet.^[4] Ownership of Southeastern Grocers has seen significant changes in recent years. In 2023, German discount retailer Aldi acquired the company as part of a broader U.S. expansion strategy, planning to convert hundreds of stores to its format.^[5] However, in February 2025, a consortium of private investors led by SEG's President and CEO Anthony Hucker, along with C&S Wholesale Grocers, repurchased approximately 170 grocery stores and the liquor business from Aldi, regaining control of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys banners while Aldi retained about 220 locations for conversion through 2027.^[6] This transition allowed SEG to refocus on its conventional supermarket model amid competitive pressures in the retail sector.^[7] Under Hucker's leadership since 2017, Southeastern Grocers has emphasized sustainability, diversity, and digital innovation, including enhanced e-commerce capabilities and associate resource groups for inclusion.^[8] The company has been recognized for workplace culture, ranking among America's Most Trusted Companies in retail by Newsweek in 2022 and as a Great Place to Work.^[9][10] Community efforts remain central, with initiatives to combat food insecurity and support local causes through store-level donations and partnerships.^[11] As of late 2025, with the impending rebrand, SEG continues to adapt to evolving consumer demands in the Southeast grocery market.^[12]

History

Origins and formation (2004-2013)

In 2004, Lone Star Funds, a private equity firm, agreed to acquire BI-LO Holdings from Royal Ahold for up to $660 million in cash, a deal that closed in early 2005 and included approximately 240 supermarkets operating primarily in the Southeastern United States, such as South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.^[13][14] This transaction marked Lone Star's entry into the regional grocery sector, aiming to revitalize the chain through operational improvements and store renovations amid competitive pressures from larger national retailers.^[15] By 2009, BI-LO faced mounting debt from the leveraged acquisition and declining sales, leading to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in March to restructure its $360 million in upcoming obligations.^[16] The reorganization, sponsored by Lone Star, involved closing underperforming stores, optimizing supply chain operations, and securing a $350 million capital infusion—comprising $150 million in new equity from Lone Star and $200 million in debtor-in-possession financing—to strengthen the balance sheet.^[17] BI-LO emerged from bankruptcy in May 2010 as a leaner entity with about 215 stores, focusing on enhanced fresh produce offerings and loyalty programs to regain market share.^[18] In December 2011, BI-LO announced a merger with Winn-Dixie Stores, acquiring the Jacksonville, Florida-based chain for $560 million in cash, which created a combined operation with nearly 690 stores across eight Southeastern states including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.^[19] The deal, completed in March 2012, allowed the retention of both BI-LO and Winn-Dixie banners while integrating back-office functions to achieve cost synergies estimated at $50 million annually, positioning the entity as a dominant regional player with over 60,000 employees.^[20] Lone Star Funds formalized the combined operations under a new parent company, Southeastern Grocers, in September 2013, incorporating the BI-LO, Winn-Dixie, and recently acquired Harveys Supermarkets banners to streamline governance ahead of a planned initial public offering.^[21] That same year, Southeastern Grocers expanded through the $265 million acquisition from Delhaize America of 72 Sweetbay supermarkets (primarily in Florida), 72 Harveys stores (in Georgia and Florida), and 11 Reid's stores (in Georgia), adding significant footprint in high-growth markets despite required divestitures of 12 stores to address antitrust concerns.^[22] These moves increased the portfolio to over 850 locations, emphasizing urban and suburban expansion in Florida and Georgia to counter intensifying competition.

Financial challenges and 2018 bankruptcy

In the mid-2010s, Southeastern Grocers encountered substantial operational pressures from heightened competition by discount retailers like Walmart, Publix, and Aldi, which eroded market share and drove declining sales in the Southeast U.S. grocery sector.^[23][24] These challenges were compounded by deflationary trends, reductions in SNAP benefits, and insufficient capital investment to modernize stores, resulting in a net loss of $139 million for fiscal year 2017.^[25][26] By late 2017, the company's debt had swelled to approximately $1.3 billion, straining liquidity amid ongoing negotiations with bondholders for refinancing.^[27][28] Efforts to alleviate financial strain included a planned initial public offering (IPO) filed in 2013 to raise up to $500 million, but the company withdrew the registration in August 2014 citing insufficient market interest amid volatile conditions.^[29] Despite these setbacks, Southeastern Grocers ranked No. 58 on Forbes' 2015 list of America's Largest Private Companies, reflecting annual revenues of $10.5 billion from its operations across Winn-Dixie, BI-LO, and Harveys Supermarket banners.^[30] On March 27, 2018, Southeastern Grocers and 26 affiliates filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, reporting assets and liabilities each valued between $1 billion and $10 billion.^[31][32] The filing triggered the immediate closure of 94 underperforming stores to streamline operations and cut costs, with the company committing to uninterrupted service at its remaining approximately 580 locations.^[33] Central to the restructuring was a prepackaged agreement with creditors holding 80% of the outstanding debt, designed to eliminate over $500 million in obligations through debt-for-equity swaps and other adjustments.^[34][35] Rather than pursuing traditional debtor-in-possession financing, Southeastern Grocers secured ongoing trade credit and supply support from C&S Wholesale Grocers to maintain inventory and operations during the proceedings.^[36] The process emphasized refocusing resources on high-potential core markets in Florida and Georgia, enabling a swift emergence from bankruptcy later that year.^[25][4]

Post-bankruptcy restructuring (2018-2023)

Following its emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2018, Southeastern Grocers operated 575 stores across seven states under the Winn-Dixie, BI-LO, Harveys Supermarket, and Fresco y Más banners, after closing 94 underperforming locations during the restructuring process.^[37] The company also reduced its debt by approximately $600 million, bringing the total to around $400 million through a debt-for-equity exchange and other measures, which strengthened its balance sheet and liquidity position.^[38][39] This restructuring allowed Southeastern Grocers to focus on operational efficiencies, including the launch of the SE Grocers rewards loyalty program in April 2018, which enabled customers to earn points redeemable for groceries and fuel discounts.^[40] In 2019, Southeastern Grocers continued store optimizations by closing 22 additional underperforming locations, comprising 13 BI-LO, seven Winn-Dixie, and two Harveys Supermarket stores across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, to further streamline its portfolio and eliminate non-core assets.^[41][42] The following year, the company accelerated its transformation strategy by announcing the phaseout of the BI-LO banner, which involved selling 62 stores—46 BI-LO and 16 Harveys Supermarket locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia—to Food Lion, a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize, with the transaction closing in phases from January to April 2021.^[43][44] The remaining BI-LO stores, 20 locations, were divested to Alex Lee Inc., operator of Lowes Foods, with 2 additional BI-LO stores and 1 Harveys store sold to B&T Foods, allowing Southeastern Grocers to consolidate operations under its stronger Winn-Dixie and Harveys banners.^[45] Southeastern Grocers also shelved plans for an initial public offering (IPO) initially filed in October 2020 and advanced in January 2021, postponing the process later that month amid volatile market conditions exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted priorities toward supply chain resilience and customer safety.^[46] During this period, the company invested in digital enhancements, expanding online ordering and curbside pickup capabilities across its banners and introducing "rewards Boosters" in May 2021 to personalize offers within the loyalty app, boosting customer engagement.^[47][48] By August 2023, these efforts culminated in the announcement of a strategic divestiture of the Fresco y Más banner, including all 28 stores and four pharmacies, to Fresco Retail Group LLC, narrowing the company's focus to traditional grocery formats ahead of broader portfolio changes.^[49]

Transactions with Aldi (2023-2025)

In August 2023, Southeastern Grocers entered into a definitive agreement to sell its entire business, including approximately 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, to Aldi in an all-cash transaction.^[49] The deal aimed to alleviate persistent financial pressures, including debt obligations, while countering intensifying competition in the grocery sector by partnering with a larger operator focused on low-price strategies.^[50] Financial terms of the agreement were not publicly disclosed.^[51] The acquisition closed in March 2024, transferring ownership of the majority of Southeastern Grocers' operations to Aldi and expanding the discounter's footprint in the Southeast to over 2,800 stores nationwide.^[52] Aldi announced plans to gradually convert around 220 of the acquired stores to its signature hard-discount format by the end of 2027, emphasizing efficiency and everyday low pricing, while operating the remainder under existing banners during the transition.^[53] This move marked a significant shift for Southeastern Grocers, as it divested core assets to streamline its portfolio amid evolving market dynamics. In February 2025, a consortium of private investors, led by Southeastern Grocers CEO Anthony Hucker and including C&S Wholesale Grocers, acquired back approximately 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, along with the associated liquor operations, from Aldi.^[5] The transaction preserved the iconic Winn-Dixie and Harveys banners, allowing the company to retain operational control over these assets and continue serving key markets.^[54] Financial details of the buyback remained undisclosed, though it coincided with the refinancing of a $200 million senior secured credit facility led by Silver Point Capital to support ongoing operations.^[55] The series of transactions ultimately reduced Southeastern Grocers' store footprint from around 400 to approximately 170 locations but solidified its regional focus, with the majority of retained stores in Florida to maintain community ties and competitive positioning.^[56]

Rebranding and strategic refocus (2025 onward)

In October 2025, Southeastern Grocers announced its rebranding to The Winn-Dixie Company, effective in early 2026, to revive the historic Winn-Dixie name and streamline its identity around its Florida heritage.^[3] This move unites operations under a single banner, emphasizing the chain's over 100-year legacy while positioning it for accelerated growth in its core market.^[57] As part of this strategic refocus, the company plans to divest most non-Florida stores by early 2026, including the transfer of ownership for 32 Winn-Dixie and eight Harveys Supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with closures completed by the end of 2025.^[12] Following these divestitures, The Winn-Dixie Company will operate approximately 130 conventional grocery stores and 140 freestanding and grocery-adjacent liquor stores primarily in Florida and southern Georgia.^[58] This reduction enables a concentrated effort on high-performing markets, building on the recent buyback of stores from Aldi to enhance its North Florida presence. The rebranding coincides with phased openings of converted stores acquired through the buyback, beginning in late 2025; for example, the new Williston Winn-Dixie is scheduled for early December 2025, followed by locations in Alachua and Keystone Heights by summer 2026.^[59] To support this refocus, Southeastern Grocers is investing in dozens of store remodels, modernization efforts, and expansion of its liquor portfolio, alongside innovations in private-label products such as the return of Lip Lickin’ Chicken in 2026.^[60] Sustainability remains a key pillar, as outlined in the company's April 2025 annual impact report, which details progress in offering eco-friendly products, including a new private-label sustainable wine line and increased sourcing from diverse suppliers to promote authenticity and environmental responsibility.^[61] Community engagement initiatives, such as partnerships with nine organizations for Earth Month events and over $4 million in local donations for hunger relief and disaster support, further align with this Florida-centric strategy.^[62] Looking ahead, The Winn-Dixie Company aims to strengthen its competitive position against rivals like Publix through enhancements to its Winn-Dixie Rewards loyalty program, which provides personalized digital coupons and deals, and pilots in digital innovations such as online delivery and return kiosks.^[63] These efforts underscore a vision for improved customer experience and long-term growth in neighborhood grocery services.^[3]

Corporate structure

Leadership and ownership

Anthony Hucker has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Southeastern Grocers since August 2017, when he was appointed following an interim period after the departure of his predecessor.^[64] Under his leadership, the company navigated significant ownership transitions, including spearheading a consortium of private investors that acquired Southeastern Grocers from Aldi in February 2025.^[5] This group, which includes C&S Wholesale Grocers, purchased the parent company along with its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners, comprising approximately 170 stores across five states.^[6] Hucker, a grocery industry veteran with prior roles at Schnucks and Aldi, continues as Chairman and CEO post-acquisition, emphasizing operational continuity and regional focus.^[65][66] Southeastern Grocers was established in 2013 by private equity firm Lone Star Funds through the merger of BI-LO Holdings and Winn-Dixie Stores, marking the beginning of its ownership under Lone Star.^[67] Lone Star retained control until 2018, when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid financial pressures, leading to a creditor-supported restructuring that eliminated over $1 billion in debt and resulted in a creditor-led emergence from bankruptcy in June 2018.^[68] Following this, Southeastern Grocers operated as a privately held entity owned by its creditors until announcing its sale to Aldi in August 2023, with the transaction closing in March 2024.^[69] The 2025 buyback reversed this, returning ownership to a private investor consortium focused on sustaining the company's southeastern U.S. presence.^[7] Prior to Hucker's appointment, Ian McLeod held the position of President and CEO, overseeing early post-merger integration efforts from 2015 until his departure in 2017.^[70] During the 2018 bankruptcy process, Hucker remained in leadership, guiding the swift restructuring without an interim CEO transition.^[39] Southeastern Grocers' governance emphasizes diversity and inclusion, as evidenced by its annual Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant program, which has awarded nearly $1.6 million to community organizations supporting underrepresented groups since its inception in 2020.^[71] The company also maintains associate resource groups, such as MOSAIC for employees of all abilities, to foster an inclusive workplace culture, as outlined in its corporate responsibility reports.^[8]

Headquarters and facilities

Southeastern Grocers is headquartered at 8928 Prominence Parkway, Suite 200, in Jacksonville, Florida.^[72] The company relocated to this Baymeadows-area office in 2016 from a previous Westside facility to accommodate expansion and foster a collaborative work environment.^[73] As of November 2025, the lease at Prominence is set to expire at the end of the year, with plans to move the headquarters to the existing Edgewood Support Center at 5050 Edgewood Court in West Jacksonville during early 2026.^[74] The company's supply chain operations are supported through a long-term partnership with C&S Wholesale Grocers, which manages distribution to ensure efficient delivery across Southeastern Grocers' store network.^[75] Key infrastructure includes a distribution center in the Jacksonville area, serving Florida stores with a focus on perishables and general merchandise.^[76] Following its 2018 bankruptcy restructuring, Southeastern Grocers invested in supply chain enhancements, including automation technologies such as AI-driven micro-factories for on-site production of items like ice, to improve operational efficiency and reduce waste.^[76] These efforts contribute to a warehousing capacity exceeding 1 million square feet across partnered facilities.^[77] Additional corporate facilities support specialized functions, including the Tech Center at 5050 Edgewood Court for information technology and procurement operations.^[78] Leadership for Southeastern Grocers is based in Jacksonville, aligning executive oversight with the company's core operational hub.^[72] As part of its 2025 strategic refocus and rebranding to The Winn-Dixie Company, no further major relocations are planned beyond the upcoming headquarters transition.^[79]

Brands and operations

Current brands

Southeastern Grocers operates two primary retail banners: Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets. These brands serve communities across the southeastern United States, emphasizing quality groceries at competitive prices.^[80] Winn-Dixie, the company's flagship brand, traces its origins to 1925 when William M. Davis acquired the Rockmoor Grocery in Miami, Florida, with a $10,000 loan from his brother.^[81] Initially a small neighborhood store, it expanded through family involvement and mergers, becoming a prominent full-service supermarket chain known for its diverse offerings.^[82] Winn-Dixie stores feature in-house bakeries with award-winning pies, cakes, and fresh breads, alongside delis, fresh produce sections, and select locations with pharmacies for prescription services and health products.^[83] The brand also offers private-label products under the SE Grocers and Know & Love lines, providing affordable alternatives to national brands in categories like pantry staples, dairy, and organic items.^[84] Following the company's 2025 strategic refocus, Winn-Dixie has been positioned as the core banner, with plans for expansion including new store conversions and the reintroduction of signature items like Lip Lickin' Chicken in 2026.^[60] Harveys Supermarkets, acquired by Southeastern Grocers in 2013 from Delhaize America as part of BI-LO Holdings' portfolio expansion, was originally founded in 1924 in Nashville, Georgia, by J.M. Harvey and his wife Iris.^[85] This acquisition integrated Harveys' 40 stores into the company's network, enhancing its presence in rural and suburban areas of Georgia and Florida.^[79] As a budget-oriented chain, Harveys emphasizes no-frills value pricing on everyday essentials, with a focus on cost savings through initiatives like Price Hold promotions on over 1,000 items.^[86] Stores highlight local produce sourced from nearby farms to ensure freshness and support regional agriculture, alongside standard grocery departments for meat, dairy, and household goods.^[87] Harveys maintains a community-centric approach, offering simple layouts and competitive deals tailored to price-sensitive shoppers in the Southeast.^[88] Both brands share the SE Grocers Rewards loyalty program, which allows customers to earn points on purchases redeemable for discounts on groceries and fuel, along with personalized digital coupons and bonus offers.^[89] This program, recognized as one of America's Best Loyalty Programs by Newsweek for four consecutive years through 2024, integrates across all stores to promote fresh, affordable groceries while fostering customer retention in the competitive southeastern market.^[90] In the years following 2023, Southeastern Grocers discontinued the BI-LO banner in 2022 to streamline operations and redirect resources toward its core brands, with remaining stores converted or sold.^[91] Similarly, the Fresco y Más Hispanic-focused chain was fully divested in January 2024 to Fresco Retail Group, allowing assets to be integrated into other operations or independent entities.^[92] These changes have enabled a sharper focus on Winn-Dixie and Harveys as the enduring pillars of the company's portfolio.^[93]

Store formats and locations

Southeastern Grocers operates a portfolio of grocery stores under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners, alongside a network of freestanding and in-store liquor locations.^[1] As of late 2025, prior to planned divestitures, the company maintains approximately 170 grocery stores and 140 liquor stores, totaling around 310 retail locations, across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with the majority concentrated in Florida.^[54][60] This footprint reflects a strategic consolidation following earlier expansions and acquisitions, emphasizing markets in the southeastern United States.^[60] The company's store formats vary to serve diverse customer needs, including traditional supermarkets typically ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet, which offer full-service grocery selections, fresh produce, and in-store pharmacies.^[94] Smaller Harveys Supermarkets, averaging around 36,000 to 38,500 square feet, function as convenience-oriented stores with a no-frills approach, focusing on essential groceries and value pricing in community settings.^[95] In addition, Southeastern Grocers oversees 140 liquor stores, comprising both standalone outlets and those adjacent to grocery operations, which provide a range of alcoholic beverages to complement its retail ecosystem.^[3] Historically, Southeastern Grocers and its predecessor entities, including Winn-Dixie, reached a peak of over 1,000 stores before 2018, spanning multiple southern states amid aggressive growth through mergers.^[82] By 2025-2026, the company is executing significant shifts, including the exit from operations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, as well as reduced presence in Georgia beyond southern regions, through the sale or closure of about 40 stores.^[57] These divestitures, set to conclude by early 2026, will streamline the portfolio to approximately 130 grocery stores primarily in Florida, with an emphasis on urban and suburban markets.^[59] Concurrently, phased remodels are underway to modernize layouts, enhance e-commerce capabilities such as curbside pickup, and integrate digital ordering systems across retained locations.^[60]