Aldi: Winn-Dixie conversion plans are not set in stone

ENGLEWOOD — Rebranding plans for Winn-Dixie stores owned by Aldi are still being finalized, according to Aldi representatives.

The grocery chain’s public relations office responded to an inquiry by The Daily Sun on Monday regarding permit plans filed for the Winn-Dixie store on 4100 South McCall Road.

Aldi purchased roughly 400 store locations for Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets from their previous owners, Southeast Grocers, last year. Several of those stores included locations in Venice, North Port and Englewood.

“We anticipate that approximately 50 stores will begin the conversion process during the latter half of 2024, with the majority of these stores reopening as ALDI in 2025,” the email from Aldi stated.

Company representatives said Aldi was still in the process of finalizing conversion plans and could not share plans with the public at this time, though announcements are expected “in the months ahead.”

The email also stated that “(m)any factors impact permitting,” and that a permit application may not be “an indication of an imminent store conversion.”

The permit filed for the Englewood East location on South McCall Road was filed on Aug. 21, with the application description describing it as a redesign to fit Aldi branding.

The design would use roughly half of the 51,000 square feet of the current Winn-Dixie store.

The email also emphasized that the company intends for “a meaningful amount of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate under their current banner.”