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Jacksonville, Fla. – After weeks of speculation, a group of private investors headed by Anthony Hucker, CEO and President of Southeastern Grocers (SEG), along with C&S Wholesale Grocers, has completed the acquisition of Southeastern Grocers along with its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket brands from Aldi U.S. This agreement, revealed today, signifies a new era for the beloved Southeastern grocery chains and their dedicated customers.
Thorvardur de Shong
The agreement entails the acquisition of roughly 170 grocery and liquor outlets operating under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket brands in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. This also encompasses Winn-Dixie's existing liquor store operations. Aldi U.S., which purchased Southeastern Grocers last year, will move forward with its previously announced plans to convert about 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores to the Aldi format. This multi-year conversion process commenced in March 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2027.
Anthony Hucker, who will now also be chairman of the newly acquired entity, expressed his enthusiasm for the future. “We are profoundly grateful and deeply honored to continue serving the communities we cherish,” Hucker said. “Our culture and path forward are firmly grounded in our 100-year legacy — a legacy built on strong values and a shared purpose of caring for one another. Throughout this transformational journey, our commitment to thoughtful, purpose-driven growth remains strong and propels us forward with renewed momentum. As we reinvest in the store fleet, we are inspired by listening loudly to the voices of our customers, to elevate and revolutionize our customer experience and store offerings, so that each step we take will reflect our dedication to our people and our communities.”
Eric Winn, CEO of C&S Wholesale Grocers, highlighted the longstanding partnership between C&S and SEG. “This consortium continues C&S and SEG’s longstanding partnership,” Winn said. “For 20 years, we have worked together to feed our communities. C&S has remained steadfast in our commitment to our transformation strategy, which includes being an industry-leading grocery wholesaler and retailer. Our unrelenting focus on long-term growth continues with an exciting opportunity for C&S to invest in and collaborate deeply with the retail market. C&S will leverage our best-in-class capabilities to provide value and quality to shoppers as we continue advancing our legacy of braggingly happy customers.”
Leadership from Aldi and SEG have committed to collaborating closely for a smooth transition. Specialized teams will manage store conversions and recruitment efforts. SEG will keep running the other stores designated for conversion, maintaining normal operations for customers and employees.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC served as the consortium's financial advisor, while Foley & Lardner LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP provided legal counsel.
