A national grocer has agreed to purchase hundreds of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations across the southeastern United States, including three in Ocala.
Aldi announced on Wednesday, August 16, that it has entered into a “definitive agreement” to acquire Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations, according to a press release issued by the company.
“Like Aldi, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket have long histories and many loyal customers in the Southeast and we look forward to serving them in the years to come,” said Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi.
Johnson says the acquisition will help the company’s plans to add “120 new stores nationwide this year” in order to reach a total of more than 2,400 stores by the end of the year.
The acquisition includes approximately 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Currently, there are two Winn-Dixie locations located in south and north Ocala at 184 Marion Oaks Boulevard and 7131 N. U.S. Hwy 441. Harveys Supermarkets has one location in Ocala at 3435 N Pine Avenue.
On the other hand, Aldi operates four grocery stores across the city, with locations in southwest, central, east, and southeast Ocala.
The company says it plans to evaluate which locations it will convert into Aldi locations to “better support the neighborhoods” it serves.
“For those stores we do not convert, our intention is that these continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores,” said Hart.
The transaction between the companies is expected to close in the first half of next year, subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions.
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