My What’s In Store column from March 4. Published in the Herald-Tribune.
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In less than a month, Southwest Florida residents will see a surge of Winn-Dixie grocery store openings.
Sweetbay Supermarket will follow the same path into extinction as its predecessor, Kash N’ Karry.
At the same time, the rechristened Winn-Dixie stores will seek to increase their footprint and compete with dominant grocer giants Publix and Walmart in Florida — and specifically in the Sarasota-Bradenton market.
Last year, Tampa-based Sweetbay was bought by Winn-Dixie’s parent, Bi-Lo Holdings. The $265 million deal included 72 Sweetbay stores in the Sunshine State and the leases for 10 that were closed before the sale.
Sweetbay had closed 33 stores just before the sale, or 30 percent of its operations in Florida, including four stores in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Those stores will stay closed.
But the remaining open stores — 10 in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties — will temporarily close March 22 and reopen March 28 as Winn-Dixies.
So Sweetbay shoppers, here’s what you need to know if you plan on switching over to the Winn-Dixie brand:
Read more here.