Bi-Lo Buys Winn-Dixie (Orlando, Davie, Lake Buena Vista: coupons, to buy, closing)

[boy3365]

A new grocery giant in the South, Bi-Lo buys Winn-Dixie for $560 million - OrlandoSentinel.com


There will be no store closings and no name change. Winn-Dixie will act as a subsidiary of Bi-Lo. I'm hoping that the influx of money will speed up store renovations. I grew up in SC, so I am familiar with Bi-Lo. There used to be Winn-Dixie stores in SC, but they pulled out about 6-10 years ago. The stores are very similar (store loyalty card, fuelperks! with Shell, usually has more attractive meat specials than aisle food specials, which is opposite of Publix, etc.), so I don't anticipate too many significant changes. So, I guess I was a little wrong in the "Publix monopoly" thread about a southern store wanting to expand in some way, shape, or form into Florida when Publix is slaying everyone else in other states.

[ChrisC33]

Good, hopefully they double coupons like Bilo does. Im moving from Charlotte NC to Orlando in a couple of weeks, love the double coupons from bilo.

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by ChrisC33

Good, hopefully they double coupons like Bilo does. Im moving from Charlotte NC to Orlando in a couple of weeks, love the double coupons from bilo.

No one doubles in Florida. I don't know if it is a legal thing or just a Publix rules the universe thing.

Furthermore, for Buy One Get One Free deals, get ready to buy two instead of getting one at half price. (That's actually not that much of a complaint unless you only have 1 "$x of one" coupon).

I don't know if Publix is in NC, but if so, no Publix Penny Item here in Florida. They don't have to do stuff like that here...

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by boy3365

A new grocery giant in the South, Bi-Lo buys Winn-Dixie for $560 million - OrlandoSentinel.com


There will be no store closings and no name change. Winn-Dixie will act as a subsidiary of Bi-Lo. I'm hoping that the influx of money will speed up store renovations. I grew up in SC, so I am familiar with Bi-Lo. There used to be Winn-Dixie stores in SC, but they pulled out about 6-10 years ago. The stores are very similar (store loyalty card, fuelperks! with Shell, usually has more attractive meat specials than aisle food specials, which is opposite of Publix, etc.), so I don't anticipate too many significant changes. So, I guess I was a little wrong in the "Publix monopoly" thread about a southern store wanting to expand in some way, shape, or form into Florida when Publix is slaying everyone else in other states.

Originally Posted by boy3365

No one doubles in Florida. I don't know if it is a legal thing or just a Publix rules the universe thing.

Furthermore, for Buy One Get One Free deals, get ready to buy two instead of getting one at half price. (That's actually not that much of a complaint unless you only have 1 "$x of one" coupon).

I don't know if Publix is in NC, but if so, no Publix Penny Item here in Florida. They don't have to do stuff like that here...

That is awesome news.

Good to know that it's not an uncommon belief that Publix needs some competition, as well as a need for more than one traditional grocery store chain in the fourth most populated state. Floridians haven't seemed to grasp that their blind, unwavering support for Publix has resulted in not only no competition, but high prices. Competition lowers prices, which is a basic principle of economics.

I would guess Bi-Lo wants to compete versus sit on what's already here (in terms of stores) so that is exciting news, especially with what Winn-Dixie was already doing with their new concept store renovations. For those that haven't been in them, they compare very favorably to Publix stores and in my opinion exceed them as they appear to be modeling after Wegman's, though not quite as extensive/large as a typical Wegman's.

Between the Bi-Lo takeover and the arrival of Trader Joe's across the state over the next couple of years, Publix is going to have to get competitive which means lowering prices and trying harder. In the end, that means good news for all of us.

[DavieJ89]

I will always be pro-Publix personally, as a former employee and someone who really believes in the company and the way they treat customers

However, I do not want to see Winn-Dixie fail and this may help them greatly. Who knows maybe Winn-Dixie will reopen stores. (Hopefully not that awful one on Americana though)

I wish Albertson's would come back to Florida too. They are on every other corner in Las Vegas, and I used to dislike them but they have grown on me. Still Smith's (Kroger subsidiary) is my choice out west for groceries

Hopefully more middle class grocery stores will pop up in Orlando. After Albertson's pulled out in 2010, and Winn-Dixie closed a majority of their stores. Its either been Publix or low end crappy stores like Aldi's, Save-A-Lot, Bravo, or Sedano's, or Wal-Mart Super Centers

And even though I will always support and cheer on Publix, it would be nice to return to Central Florida again and see some variety when it comes to food shopping as opposed to howit is now the choices are Publix, Hispanic Stores, Wal-Mart. Not great IMO

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

I will always be pro-Publix personally, as a former employee and someone who really believes in the company and the way they treat customers

However, I do not want to see Winn-Dixie fail and this may help them greatly. Who knows maybe Winn-Dixie will reopen stores. (Hopefully not that awful one on Americana though)

I wish Albertson's would come back to Florida too. They are on every other corner in Las Vegas, and I used to dislike them but they have grown on me. Still Smith's (Kroger subsidiary) is my choice out west for groceries

Hopefully more middle class grocery stores will pop up in Orlando. After Albertson's pulled out in 2010, and Winn-Dixie closed a majority of their stores. Its either been Publix or low end crappy stores like Aldi's, Save-A-Lot, Bravo, or Sedano's, or Wal-Mart Super Centers

And even though I will always support and cheer on Publix, it would be nice to return to Central Florida again and see some variety when it comes to food shopping as opposed to howit is now the choices are Publix, Hispanic Stores, Wal-Mart. Not great IMO

I hated that store. I walk to the Publix on John Young Now. I've always been more Publix minded anyhow.

[hiknapster]

There use to be really nice grocery store chain in the Orlando area back in the 90s when I lived there? Does anyone remember the name?

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

There use to be really nice grocery store chain in the Orlando area back in the 90s when I lived there? Does anyone remember the name?

Food Lion? Albertsons?

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

There use to be really nice grocery store chain in the Orlando area back in the 90s when I lived there? Does anyone remember the name?

Originally Posted by IAm_FloridaBorn

Food Lion? Albertsons?

Goodings?

Gooding's Supermarkets-Walt Disney Resort Grocery Deliver

[doom1001]

Originally Posted by OrlFlaUsa

Goodings?

Gooding's Supermarkets-Walt Disney Resort Grocery Deliver

I remember going into Goodings in the early 90's and thinking how nice it was,I believe they were always ridiculously expensive but at least they were nice or at least nice when compared to other supermarkets in the early 90's.Fast forward to this year when I walked into what I think is the only Goodings left located outside Disney in Lake Buena Vista,the place looked like it hadn't been updated in 10 years,even scarier than that was that the shelves were like almost half empty,looking like the place was going out of business or something just not right,on top of that the place is still ridiculously expensive.At least 20 years ago it was nice,now I have no idea why or how it's still around.