Industry observers are keeping an eye on several retailers: many are regional and rapidly expanding, while others are gaining momentum and have proven themselves exceptionally well positioned for growth.
In this Produce Blueprints series, we delve into eight grocery operators experts say are worth watching.
SOUTHEASTERN GROCERS
Southeastern Grocers, Inc. operates stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi under the Winn-Dixie BB #:110823, Fresco y Más, and Harveys Supermarket banners with more than 420 stores. In 2022, it remodeled 51 of its locations and opened 17 liquor stores.
It also opened its first new ground-up Winn-Dixie in a decade and has plans for a few more, all in Southeastern Grocers’ home state of Florida, where the lion’s share of its stores exist. These are part of the retailer’s commitment to supporting economic growth in the Southeast.
The new stores are designed according to customer requests, Southeastern Grocers says, and include a renewed focus on fresh produce and other fresh and prepared foods. Complementary items are displayed together, including fresh-cut vegetables in a case with fresh seafood for a quick meal.
The goal of all the new stores, the company says, is to provide value through deep savings in a convenient shopping experience, along with investing in local economies through job creation.
Like some of its competitors, Southeastern Grocers has expanded its private-label program significantly of late. In 2021, it launched more than 400 new products under its various store brands, with another 500 introduced in 2022.
It now sells a total of more than 6,000 store-branded items across its three retail banners, and plans to continue expanding the program, including more products tailored to individual communities.
Southeastern Grocers has won a number of awards for its private-label products, including being named the 2022 Retailer of the Year by Store Brands, which cited the expansion of sustainable private-label items and the grocer’s strong connection with its communities as among its strengths.
The company also appears on multiple lists of best places to work, including Fortune’s 2022 Best Workplaces in Retail, Newsweek’s America’s Most Loved Workplaces and America’s Most Trusted Companies, and The Silicon Review’s 30 Fabulous Companies of the Year.
Southeast Grocers recently launched a proprietary online shopping and delivery service for customers of 375 Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations, in partnership with DoorDash, with plans to expand the initiative to Fresco y Más in 2023.
The online shopping and delivery service offers the same access to weekly deals and promotions shoppers have in-store. The retailer also rolled out curbside pickup earlier this year.
Editor’s note: This online story was update to reflect the correct corporate name, store count and roll out of curbside pickup.
This is an excerpt from the cover story in the March/April 2023 issue of Produce Blueprints Magazine. Click here to read the whole issue.
