ALDI has agreed to terms to expand by nearly 400 stores in the American southeast.
The discount chain will buy Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, dramatically changing several grocery stores for millions of customers.
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Aldi entered a definitive agreement to buy Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Winn-Dixie and Harveys have hundreds of grocery stores throughout the American southeast.
The purchase agreement continues Aldi's rapid expansion in the grocery retail space.
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"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," Aldi's CEO, Jason Hart, said in a statement.
"The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills."
The move brings approximately 400 stores under Aldi's brand in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The company said it had plans to add 120 stores throughout the brand, bringing the store roster to 2,400 in the US.
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Aldi's continued expansion contrasts several grocery brands' 2023 outputs as food sellers continue cutting back on their retail footprint.
CUSTOMER IMPACT
Some Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations will rebrand as Aldi stores.
The company didn't specify which stores will undergo the rebranding.
Southeastern Grocers (SEG), the former owner of Winn-Dixie and Harveys, also agreed to sell Fresco y Más.
Fresco y Más is a self-described Hispanic grocery store with "products and services its local Hispanic and Caribbean communities desire."
The brand was sold to Fresco Retail Group, LLC.
Fresco y Más will continue operations under the same banner.
"Our successful transformational journey has created a unique opportunity with leading partners who share our vision and common commitments to creating value for their customers," SEG CEO Anthony Hucker said in a statement.
"We believe these next steps will fuel a phenomenal experience for our customers, new opportunities for our associates and increased value for our shareholders."
GREATER TREND
Aldi is one of several convenience or discount chains that have bought up a grocery sector that is increasingly long in the tooth, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Discount brands like Lidl, Costco, and Walmart have joined convenience-based platforms like Amazon as the ever-expanding brands in the grocery market.
Aldi said its position as a low-cost alternative for customers allows it to expand while other stores have to shut down.
"Despite many retailers shuttering stores due to economic conditions, ALDI is doubling-down on expansion plans, supporting its position as one of the fastest-growing grocers in the country," the company wrote in the press release.
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The U.S. Sun reports on other Aldi changes - here is how the company updated its operating hours.
Also, here are some Aldi fresh finds.
