LOCAL

South Lakeland Winn-Dixie will close this month, to reopen as an Aldi. Are more on the way?

Ledger staff

The South Lakeland Winn-Dixie store is closing later in July, to reopen months later as an Aldi, a company spokesperson confirmed Friday. Are more conversions on the way?

Customers had posted on social media this week a notice posted at the store that it would be closing soon for a remodel. Many speculated that it might be converting to the Aldi format.

"We can confirm the Winn-Dixie located at 6902 South Florida Ave. ... will be closed for renovations in late-July," the Aldi media relations department said Friday in response to a request from The Ledger. "The store will reopen to the community as an ALDI over the next several months.

"While this store is temporarily closed, we continue to proudly serve the residents in the Lakeland area at our other nearby stores. We thank our customers for their years of loyalty at this location and look forward to seeing them soon as a new ALDI." 

Aldi announced in August that it was acquiring about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets from Southeastern Grocers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The sale closed in March.

Aldi said at the time the acquisition was announced that it would convert "a significant amount" of Winn-Dixie and Harvey's stores to its Aldi brand, but not all. "However, a meaningful amount of Winn-Dixie stores will continue to operate under their respective banners," it said during the day of the announcement.

It did not say which stores would convert, and as of the time of the closing in March, it still had not released a comprehensive list of conversions.

On Friday, in the email to The Ledger, the media department hinted that more former Southeastern Grocers stores in Polk County would be converted.

"Associates at this location have the opportunity to be the first to apply to newly converted ALDI stores," the company said. "In addition, ALDI is committed to doing its best to minimize the impact and provide support and opportunities to associates at converting stores, including the option to remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to a neighboring store.

Aside from the South Lakeland store, there are six other Winn-Dixie supermarkets in Polk County:

  • 6600 N. Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland
  • 2900 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
  • 345 Havendale Blvd., Auburndale
  • 36019 US 27, Haines City
  • 28047 US 27, Dundee
  • 1860 E. State Road 60, Lake Wales

There are also three Harvey's supermarkets:

  • 1305 Ariana St, Lakeland.
  • 2630 U.S. 92 East, Lakeland
  • 2700 Recker Highway, Winter Haven

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Before the sale was announced, Aldi had nine stores in Polk County, plus a distribution center in Haines City.

  • 4745 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland
  • 4532 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland
  • 1046 N. Wilson Ave., Bartow
  • 2133 U.S. 92, Auburndale
  • 333 Ave. K S.W., Winter Haven
  • 753 Thompson Nursery Road, Lake Wales
  • 35770 U.S. 27, Haines City
  • 7820 Osceola Polk Line Road, Davenport
  • 9550 U.S. 192, Clermont

The acquisition gives Aldi 19 stores in Polk County. By comparison, Publix has at least 30 stores in Polk, including 13 in the Lakeland area alone. Its GreenWise market on South Florida Avenue was recently converted to a traditional store.

That's in addition to the company's headquarters in Lakeland and multiple production and warehouse facilities.

In March, Aldi announced plans to add 800 stores nationwide by the end of 2028 through a combination of new openings and store conversions. The five-year expansion plan is focused on bringing "even more Florida communities quality, affordable groceries."