Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

There has been a rather large shake-up in the grocery business. In a recent press release, Winn-Dixie’s parent company, Southeastern Grocers, announced that it will be entering into a merger agreement with German supermarket chain Aldi, with the company purchasing over 400 Winn-Dixie stores across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. This includes the Bainbridge location.

The Post-Searchlight reached out to the local Winn-Dixie, with management declining to comment. Should the deal be approved and go through, it will be completed in early 2024. Southeastern Grocers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018, which led to a company restructuring. In this latest deal with Aldi, the German store will acquire all of Southeastern Grocers’ outstanding shares.

But should this deal go through, what does this mean for Bainbridge shoppers? In a statement to the Miami Herald, Aldi CEO Jason Hart clarified that not all stores will be converted into Aldi locations. “We are evaluating which locations will convert to the Aldi format to better support the neighborhoods we’ll now have the privilege of serving,” he said. Stores that aren’t converted will retain their old Winn-Dixie branding and style. It is currently unknown if the Bainbridge store will remain the same or undergo conversion. Should it be converted, customers should expect changes such as Aldi’s shopping cart system, which requires a quarter to unlock a cart, as well as expect to bag their own groceries.

The Post-Searchlight will provide updates on this as more information becomes available.