Winn-Dixie’s two Indian River County supermarkets – at 955 CR 512 in Sebastian and 2950 9th St. SW in Vero Beach – have just unveiled their sleek new look, following an extensive re-modeling. Today, parent company Bi-Lo Holdings, headquartered in Jacksonville, owns 830 stores in eight southeastern states under the Winn-Dixie (546 stores), Bi-Lo and Harvey’s banners. It is considered the fifth largest conventional supermarket chain in the country.
Winn-Dixie had its beginning as a small general store, founded in 1914 in Burley, Ohio, by William Milton Davis and his four sons. Davis moved the business to Miami in 1925 and, through acquisitions, the company expanded over the years to more than 1,000 stores.
Hit hard by growing competition in the 2000s, the company was forced to close many of its stores, and, in early 2005, filed for bankruptcy. Under new leadership, the company emerged from Chapter 11 protection in a much stronger financial position, modernizing existing stores and vigorously acquiring new holdings. Once publicly traded, the chain is now privately owned.
District Manager and 35-year Winn-Dixie employee Mark Nyquist says top local market share competitors are Publix, with the edge, and Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart “pretty neck-and-neck.”
Nyquist and Communications head Mayra Hernandez conducted a tour of the spacious, remodeled Sebastian store. Nyquist says both county stores were built in the late 1990s with the same floor plan and have undergone the same aggressive remodel, the only “sales floor” difference between the two being Sebastian’s stand-alone wine and spirits shop next door to the main store.
Immediately upon entering the 44,788-square-foot sales floor, shoppers get the feeling of more space, with a carefully designed layout and each and every broad aisle free of stand-alone display obstructions.
All carts, including handicap and baby carts, and much of the shelving, cases and racks are new. Every surface received a fresh coat of paint and the pastel wall colors provide pleasing backdrops for the bold, clean lettering and art elements, none of which distract the eye from the product displays.
In front, the produce department has been expanded, Nyquist points out, with more space, more variety and an organics category with “much more availability.” Most of the produce, and virtually all the organics, come from within the United States.
“We work with Florida and local growers” as much as possible, notes Hernandez. Nyquist explains that, especially with fresh produce, “labeling is a big deal,” and any produce from offshore must be clearly identified. Produce once displayed in cooled but open bins is now temperature-controlled inside refrigerated cases.
Nearby, a broader selection of beer and wine is displayed on new racks on rollers, for ease of stocking and rearranging. The floral section, too, has been expanded with more variety and a florist on staff.
Moving around to the Deli, Nyquist is proud of the new carving bar and available chef-inspired meals – rib roast, salmon, brisket, sautéed vegetables and more. “And,” he said proudly, “we’ve added a wing bar!” An addition to the sandwich bar, especially popular with Snowbird customers, is the availability of Deitz and Watson meats, “well known in the Northeast.”
The seafood area also offers more variety of fresh, local choices, and includes party platters. The dairy section is another in which products are now displayed within temperature-controlled cases to enhance freshness.
Moving back around to the front, the bakery entices with cases full of treats which now include custom desserts. With professionally trained, in-house cake artists, a customer can bring in a photo and a high-tech photo-machine will enable the artist to reproduce it on a cake. The upgraded bread section includes a broad selection of artisan breads.
Upfront, the full-service pharmacy sports a face lift and the same experienced professional pharmacists.
The new wine and Spirits shop boasts its own, independent storefront, which has a sleek design with wide, bright aisles, and an impressive variety of wine and liquors including a nice selection of craft beers.
The grocery stores are open 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. seven days a week. The Sebastian Wine and Spirits shop hours are: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., Sat.; and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun.
Hernandez emphasizes the Winn-Dixie promise: “Freshness is guaranteed or double your money back.”
