The acquisition will expand Food Lion’s Georgia footprint to 51 stores and push its 2026 store openings beyond the company’s original growth target.
Food Lion has reached an agreement to acquire five Winn-Dixie supermarkets in southern Georgia, expanding its presence in the state as Winn-Dixie shifts its focus to its Florida operations.
The five stores, located in Brunswick, Folkston, Lake Park, St. Simons Island and Valdosta, will continue operating under the Winn-Dixie banner until the transaction closes. Food Lion plans to convert the locations and reopen them under its own banner in mid-December, subject to customary closing requirements.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The acquisition will increase Food Lion’s Georgia store count to 51 and bring its total new store openings for 2026 to 15, exceeding its original target of 10 stores. The Salisbury, N.C.-based retailer expects to hire approximately 375 associates across the five locations.
“The growth we’re experiencing gives us great momentum as we head into 2027,” said Greg Finchum, president of Food Lion. “Each new store broadens our footprint and deepens our presence in the towns and cities we serve.”
The five locations included in the agreement are:
- Brunswick: 5420 Jesup Highway
- Folkston: 3606 Second St.
- Lake Park: 1060 Lakes Blvd.
- St. Simons Island: 220 Retreat Village
- Valdosta: 3200 North Ashley St.
Following conversion, the supermarkets will offer Food Lion’s assortment of fresh produce, meats, prepared foods and grocery essentials. Customers will also have access to grocery pickup and home delivery through the retailer’s Food Lion To Go platform.
Winn-Dixie Concentrates on Florida
For Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie, the sale represents a further consolidation of its operations around its home state.
The five locations are Winn-Dixie’s remaining supermarkets in southern Georgia. Following the transaction, the company expects to operate more than 120 grocery stores and more than 100 liquor stores in Florida.
Winn-Dixie has continued investing in its Florida operations, including the conversion of three former Hitchcock’s Markets locations and eight store remodels during 2026. The retailer also plans to open stores in Zephyrhills and Eustis in 2027.
Raymond Rhee, president and CEO of The Winn-Dixie Company, said the decision will allow the retailer to concentrate additional resources on its Florida business.
“This strategic decision allows us to build on that momentum and direct more resources toward expanding and strengthening our presence across Florida,” Rhee said.
Food Lion, a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize USA, operates more than 1,100 supermarkets across 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 82,000 associates.
The company said additional information about the Georgia store conversions, including grand opening dates, will be announced later.