In 1999, Kroger announced plans to acquire 74 Winn Dixie stores in Oklahoma and Texas.
As the nation’s largest supermarket chain, this acquisition would have strengthened Kroger’s market share. Because of this, you might be wondering whether Kroger acquired Winn Dixie. Here’s what I discovered in my research!
Does Kroger Own Winn Dixie In [currentyear]?
Although Kroger had announced the deal to buy Winn Dixie stores, the planned purchase did not happen. Therefore, Kroger does not own Winn Dixie in [currentyear]. BI-LO bought Winn Dixie in 2011 at $530 million. While the store became a subsidiary of BI-LO after the deal, it continued to operate under its brand name until today.
To learn more about whether there is any relationship between Kroger and Winn Dixie, keep on reading for more useful facts!
Who Owns Winn Dixie?
Winn Dixie was acquired by BI-LO in 2011. A year later, it became a part of Bi-Lo Holdings, the parent company of Winn Dixie and BI-LO.
BI-LO holdings eventually changed its name to Southeastern Grocers in 2015.
Since its establishment in 1925, Winn Dixie has expanded to become a renowned supermarket retail chain, especially in the southeastern region.
So far, the retail store has more than 500 locations across the country.
After the merge, Winn Dixie’s ticker symbol was removed from the NASDAQ. Additionally, the “Chek” soft drinks brand replaced BI-LO’s brand of sodas.
Despite the growth, Winn Dixie has had to close some stores due to bankruptcy and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Has Kroger Ever Tried to Purchase Winn Dixie?
Kroger had announced the plan to take over Winn Dixie stores in 1999 in Texas and Oklahoma, but the plan was terminated a year later.
This proposed acquisition would have made Kroger the largest supermarket in Fort Worth at that time. However, the deal did not come to pass.
Which Other Stores Are Affiliated with Winn Dixie?
Winn Dixie is not the only supermarket chain owned by Southeastern Grocers. The parent company has these additional stores under its management.
Fresco y Más
Established in 2016, Fresco y Más is one of the largest supermarket chains in the Southeast.
As a subsidiary of Southeastern Grocers, it was started to serve the Hispanic communities in South Florida.
Southeastern Grocers expanded the Fresco y Más brand by opening new stores in Tampa and Deltona in September 2021.
These two stores increased the total number of Fresco y Más locations to 29.
Most of the Fresco y Más locations are in South Florida. However, there are several units in Orlando and Tampa.
Harveys Supermarket
Harveys Supermarket was established in 1924 by J.M. and Iris Harvey.
Initially acquired by the Delhaize Group in 2003, Harveys was eventually sold to BI-LO Holdings in 2013 for $265 million.
As of [currentyear], there are 67 Harveys Supermarket locations across the United States, in Florida and Georgia.
How Does Winn Dixie Compare to Kroger?
Here are some of the ways in which these two retail chains are different:
Ownership
Kroger and Winn Dixie are completely different because they are managed by different companies.
Kroger owns 2,800 grocery retail stores in different states in the U.S., making it the largest supermarket chain in the country.
Some of the brands under Kroger include the following:
- Fry’s
- Ralphs
- QFC
- Harris Teeter
- King Scoopers
- Fred Meyer
- Roundy’s
- Baker’s
- Food 4 Less
- Dillion Companies
- Smith’s
- City Market
- Home Chef
- Metro Market
On the other hand, Winn Dixie is under the Southeastern Grocers family.
Locations
Winn Dixie is primarily in the Southeast region of the country. Therefore, most of the stores are in these particular states.
On the other hand, Kroger has 35 locations across the United States. Additionally, the supermarket chain has a national presence because it owns other stores.
Price Comparison
Winn Dixie is slightly cheaper than Kroger. While both stores offer a wide variety of products, they have different costs on items.
However, on some occasions, the prices vary quite a lot because both stores provide offers and product discounts.
Therefore, some items may be cheaper in both stores depending on the season.
How Is Winn Dixie Similar to Kroger?
Both Winn Dixie and Kroger stock a wide variety of products, whether you need liquor, groceries, or pharmaceutical products.
In addition, they both have some private-label brands in their stores. While Kroger has brands such as Simple Truth and Private Selection, Winn Dixie is renowned for its SE Grocers brand.
Can You Return Winn Dixie Items to Kroger?
If you need to return items purchased at Winn Dixie, you have to take them to the respective store.
Since Kroger and Winn Dixie are not under the same family of companies, they will not accept products from the other retail chain.
Both supermarket chains have a separate return policy that customers must use to take back items for a refund or exchange.
You can also consult the staff to know more about how the return policy works, exceptions, and regulations.
Does Kroger Price Match Winn Dixie?
Unfortunately, you can’t price match at Kroger if you find cheaper identical items at Winn Dixie. Kroger does not have a price matching policy that customers can use.
Winn Dixie also does not have a price matching policy for its customers.
Therefore, to get a lower price on items, you have to take advantage of discounts and seasonal offers provided by the retail chains.
To know more, you can also read our posts on whether or not Kroger owns Tom Thumb, if Kroger owns Turkey Hill, and if Kroger owns Meijer.
Conclusion
Although Kroger had announced the deal to buy Winn Dixie stores, the planned purchase did not happen. As of [currentyear], Kroger does not own Winn Dixie. BI-LO bought Winn Dixie in 2011 at $530 million.
