Aldi acquires Southeastern Grocers, plans to add 800 U.S. stores
Aldi says it plans to add 800 U.S. stores by the end of 2028 through a combination of new openings and store conversions.
As a key part of its plan, Aldi has completed the acquisition of Southeastern Grocers and its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners, which will drive significant growth in the Southeast region over the next few years, the company said in a news release.
"Our growth is fueled by our customers, and they are asking for more Aldi stores in their neighborhoods nationwide," Aldi CEO Jason Hart said in the release. "With up to 40% savings on groceries, new customers are inspired to try us out, and existing customers keep coming back. While price is important, we earn their loyalty by stocking our shelves with only the best products and offering a quicker, easier, and more enjoyable shopping experience. With this commitment to add 800 stores in the next five years, we'll be where our shoppers need us while positively impacting the communities we serve."
Aldi says it will invest more than $9 billion over the next five years for its national expansion. The discount chain will aim to strengthen its established presence in the Northeast and Midwest, adding nearly 330 stores across both regions by the end of 2028, the release said. Aldi also plans to grow its presence in the West by adding more stores in Southern California and Phoenix and by entering new cities, such as Las Vegas.
"For more than a decade, Aldi has added hundreds of stores per year across the country," Hart said. "This success would not be possible without our dedicated team members and supplier partners that bring our customers value and convenience every day. With our growth comes exciting opportunities for our teams and suppliers to grow with us."
Southeast Grocers acquisition completed
In the Southeast, the acquisition of Southeastern Grocers and its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners support Aldi expansion in the region. In addition to organic growth through new store openings, a significant number of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets will convert to the Aldi format over the next several years, according to the release. Starting midsummer, Aldi will begin a phased approach to the store conversion process.
Aldi says it anticipates 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 company says it intends for a meaningful amount of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate under their current banners.
Both Aldi and Southeastern Grocers are committed to a seamless transition and continuing to deliver excellent value and customer service to their shoppers, the release said.
"With a long history of serving the Southeast, our steadfast commitment to helping our customers stretch their hard-earned dollars has remained a constant priority," Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said in the release. "As we begin this next chapter, we will continue to deliver the quality, service and value our customers have come to expect from us."
"With the acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, Aldi will serve even more communities in the Southeast, bringing us closer to our customers in a region where we've already experienced significant demand for affordable, quality groceries," Hart said. "As we look ahead to this next chapter in our company history, both the Aldi and SEG teams will play a critical role in driving the business forward for our future collective success."
Aldi says, throughout the expansion, it remains committed to making a positive impact on communities and ensuring its environmental footprint doesn't grow with it. As part of its growth, Aldi will build and remodel stores with sustainable features such as energy-efficient LED lighting, environmentally friendly refrigeration systems, rooftop solar systems and more, according to the release.
