Three Florida Winn Dixie Stores Are Named For Aldi Conversion

Photo bySoutheastern Grocers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Get ready for some shopping changes Lakeland, Panama City Beach, and Panama City shoppers in Florida. Since Aldi bought 400 Winn Dixie stores in the fall of 2023, I've written about how some Floridians have speculated as to whether their local Winn Dixie would be one of the converting stores. After all, Aldi CEO, Jason Hart, has previously spoken about locations that will continue operating as Winn Dixie stores. Specifically, while an Aldi spokesperson estimated that 50 Winn Dixie stores would become Aldis in 2024, CEO Hart has said:

“For those stores we do not convert, our intention is that these continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores..."

And now Floridians have gotten some clarification on three Winn Dixie stores that will convert to Aldi stores. An Aldi spokesperson recently said that the company has made progress in transitioning some stores to the Aldi banner, including the following three in Florida:

• 3157 West 23rd St. in Panama City;
• 6902 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland; and
• 23200 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach

Aldi officials have reportedly said that customers for the converted Aldi stores can expect “smaller stores stocked with only the items customers need.”

The Winn Dixie stores in question receive relatively high marks from Floridians and visitors. For example, the Panama City location gets a 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google reviews, the Lakeland store gets a 4.2, and the Panama City Beach location gets a 4.3.

A reviewer named Julie wrote the following about the Panama City Beach location:

"The staff is friendly and helpful. My parents are snowbirds. I appreciate knowing that they have a regular friendly place to shop where they are greeted kindly and treated like neighbors."

The author is not affiliated with Aldi, Winn Dixie, or any other grocers.