Northport Winn-Dixie grocery store will close, re-open as Aldi

The Winn-Dixie on McFarland Blvd in Northport will close temporarily and re-open as Aldi.

The grocery store at 10 McFarland Blvd., will close mid-July as it prepares to transition to the Aldi format.

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Meredith Hurley, senior director of communications and community for Southeastern Grocers, released a statement on the store's closure and how the change will affect its employees.

"... the Winn-Dixie located at 10 McFarland Blvd. will convert to a new Aldi store to best support the Tuscaloosa community. All associates working at the store received official advanced notice that their store is projected to close in mid-July to convert to an Aldi location," Hurley said.

During the transition, Hurley said associates will have the first opportunity to apply to roles at newly converted Aldi stores or transfer to neighboring Winn-Dixie stores. Winn-Dixie has two other stores in Tuscaloosa County: 4205 University Blvd. E and 9750 Alabama Highway 69 S.

Right now, Aldi has stores at 5801 McFarland Blvd. in Northport and 1349 McFarland Blvd. in Tuscaloosa. The Northport Aldi opened in 2019, while the Tuscaloosa Aldi opened in 2015.

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The site at 10 McFarland Blvd. will be Tuscaloosa County's third Aldi.

"To ensure a smooth transition for our associates, SEG (Southeastern Grocers) has worked diligently with Aldi to provide support and opportunities to each associate at converting stores, including having the first opportunity to apply to roles at newly converted Aldi stores or remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to a neighboring store," Hurley said.

More details about the new Aldi will be released at a later date, Hurley said.

"As we work through this transition period, conversion plans are still being finalized and we will share more information as it becomes available. We appreciate the support and understanding of our valued associates, customers and communities throughout this process," Hurley said.

Last year, Aldi announced in a news release that the chain has entered into an agreement to acquire Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket. All three stores are owned by Southeastern Grocers.

Aldi is buying roughly 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, the release states.

“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,” said Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi, in a news release.

“The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills. The transaction supports our long-term growth strategy across the United States, including plans to add 120 new stores nationwide this year to reach a total of more than 2,400 stores by year-end," Hart said.

Hart said some stores will convert to the Aldi format, while others will continue to operate as Winn-Dixie.

“Aldi will operate Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores with the same level of care and focus onquality and service, as we also evaluate which locations will convert to the Aldi format to better supportthe neighborhoods we’ll now have the privilege of serving,” Hart said.

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

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Northport Winn-Dixie grocery store will close, re-open as Aldi