C&S Wholesale Grocers plans to become the majority owner of The Winn-Dixie Company, expanding the wholesaler’s retail presence in the Southeast as it continues to grow through acquisitions.
The Keene, N.H.-based company announced the proposed transaction Thursday. The deal is expected to close in early 2027. Financial terms and the size of C&S’ proposed ownership stake were not disclosed.
C&S was already part of a consortium of private investors that acquired Winn-Dixie from Aldi U.S. in 2025. The new transaction would give C&S majority control of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based supermarket company.
The move comes as C&S integrates SpartanNash, adding another significant retail operation to a business that historically has been best known as one of the nation’s largest grocery wholesalers.
C&S currently operates more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores, primarily under the D&W Fresh Market, Grand Union, Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets and Piggly Wiggly banners. The company said its experience integrating SpartanNash helped identify additional opportunities to expand its retail business, particularly in the Southeast.
“Our combination has already strengthened the skills and capabilities we need to win in the marketplace while clearly demonstrating that our continued growth has been greatly enhanced with our transformative M&A,” C&S CEO Eric Winn said.
Winn said the Southeast represents a particular opportunity for additional retail growth.
The transaction will also bring a leadership change at Winn-Dixie. Anthony Hucker, the company’s CEO, will transition to a special advisory role over the coming months. Raymond Rhee will serve as CEO until the transaction closes, according to C&S.
“Winn-Dixie has always been more than a business to me — it is home,” Hucker said. “This proposed next step with C&S is a natural evolution of a partnership built on trust, shared purpose and a deep belief in what the hometown grocer still means to the communities we serve.”
Winn-Dixie will maintain an office presence in Jacksonville, where the banner has longstanding roots.
C&S said majority ownership would provide Winn-Dixie with additional scale to address structural costs and strengthen its supply chain. The retailer plans to continue investing in its stores and brand, including opening new locations, remodeling existing stores, upgrading the customer experience and expanding its private-label offerings.
The proposed deal represents the latest chapter in a series of ownership changes for Winn-Dixie.
Aldi acquired Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket as part of its 2024 acquisition of Southeastern Grocers. Aldi subsequently converted a portion of the acquired locations to the Aldi banner while eventually selling Winn-Dixie back to a consortium of private investors that included C&S.
For C&S, taking majority ownership would deepen a relationship with Winn-Dixie that the companies said extends back more than 20 years and further shift the wholesaler toward direct supermarket ownership.
Founded in 1918, C&S supplies chain, independent and military customers through 60 distribution centers nationwide. Its family of companies now includes Grocers Supply, Hansen Distribution Group, Davidson Specialty Foods and SpartanNash.