Hitchcock’s Markets in Alachua, Keystone Heights and Williston will reopen as Winn-Dixie grocery stores starting in December as part of a Winn-Dixie expansion in Florida.
Earlier this month, Hitchcock’s staff told Mainstreet Daily News the family-founded grocer and pharmacy was selling all 10 of its locations serving rural communities across North Central Florida.
At the time, the Newberry Hitchcock’s location was the only store’s sale that had been finalized. It will open as a Bravo Supermarket by the end of this month.
Earlier in October, Hitchcock’s was reviewing verbal purchasing offers from Winn-Dixie for the Alachua, Keystone Heights and Williston locations. Winn-Dixie’s parent company, Southeastern Grocers, announced in a press release on Tuesday that the deal for the three stores had been finalized.
The buyouts are part of a strategic refocus to expand throughout Florida. Southeastern Grocers, which owns Harveys Supermarkets and the Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie, will merge into The Winn-Dixie Company by early 2026.
Southeastern Grocers Chairman and CEO Anthony Hucker will serve in the same capacities for The Winn-Dixie Company.
“For a century, Winn-Dixie has proudly called Florida home,” Hucker said in the release. “As we enter our next century as The Winn-Dixie Company—a brand-new 100-year-old company—we are accelerating growth where our roots run deepest while staying true to our purpose of feeding and enriching the communities, families and neighbors who have supported us for generations.”
According to the release, Winn-Dixie will open at the former Hitchcock’s Markets in Williston, 434 E Noble Ave., by early December before the neighboring Winn-Dixie at 727 W Noble Ave. is scheduled to close. Southeastern Grocers said associates from the closing Winn-Dixie will have the opportunity to continue working in the new store.
The Alachua and Keystone Heights stores will reopen as Winn-Dixie locations by summer 2026.
Along with the three Hitchcock’s Markets acquisitions, Southeastern Grocers and Winn-Dixie’s Florida-focused plans include dozens of remodels and new store projects.
Southeastern Grocers said it made the difficult decision to sell most of its Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations outside of Florida in order to fuel long-term growth.
Sales have either been finalized or planned with various grocers for 32 Winn-Dixie stores and eight Harveys Supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Closings are expected to be completed by the end of the year with all transitions anticipated by early 2026.
Southeastern Grocers will maintain its presence in southern Georgia with stores in Brunswick, Folkston, Lake Park, St. Simons Island and Valdosta.
“While this change enables the grocer to reinvest in the communities where its roots run deepest, it also marks the end of an important chapter in regions that have supported Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets for generations,” the release said.
Following these transactions, The Winn-Dixie Company will operate around 130 grocery stores and 140 freestanding and grocery-adjacent liquor stores.
The company will grow its award-winning Own Brand liquor, bring back its Lip Lickin’ Chicken products in early 2026 and launch new customer services and partnerships such as third-party online grocery delivery and in-store return kiosks.
“As we write our next chapter as The Winn-Dixie Company, we also want to acknowledge the people and communities beyond Florida who have been an integral part of our story,” Hucker said. “We will do everything we can to support those who supported us, ensuring this transition reflects the gratitude and respect they deserve.”
Alan Hitchcock, whose father, Bob Hitchcock, and grandfather, Robert Hitchcock Sr., founded Hitchcock’s Markets on Main Street in Alachua in 1945, sold the company in 2008.
He said hearing about the sales of the stores again this month brought sadness as the Hitchcock’s name will disappear, but also relief as the philosophy and the management styles have deviated from the original mission.
Alan Hitchcock said he’s glad that Hitchcock’s Markets communities will continue to have supermarkets in them, but that chains could erase the unique ability local grocers have to connect with their communities in ways larger ones cannot, because of their size and structure.
Stay up to date on The Winn-Dixie Company’s transition by visiting Southeastern Grocer’s website.