Wholesaler Mitchell Acquires 3 Winn-Dixies for Indie Customers

Wholesaler Mitchell Grocery Corp. announced an agreement to purchase three Winn-Dixie store locations in Alabama from Winn-Dixie's parent company, Southeastern Grocers.

All three stores are located in Northeast Alabama in the cities of Jacksonville, Oxford, and Pell City. Mitchell Grocery said it was purchasing the stores on behalf of two of its current customers, Johnson's Giant Foods and The D’Alessandro Organization LLC. Johnson's Giant Foods will own and operate the Jacksonville and Oxford locations, and The D'Alessandro Organization will own and operate the Pell City location under the Fresh Value banner.

Terms were not disclosed.

The store sales continue Southeastern Grocer’s exit from its Mississippi and Louisiana marketing areas ahead of a planned financial reorganization under Chapter 11. Over the last month, Southeastern has announced separate deals to sell stores to Shoppers Value and Brookshire Grocery. WGB previously reported on the implications of Southeastern’s financial issues.

“We are thrilled about this agreement and the opportunities it presents for two of our operators to expand and grow their businesses," David Mitchell, president of Mitchell Grocery, said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming and serving new customers and employees in the Jacksonville, Oxford and Pell City areas."

Mitchell Grocery Corp.'s distribution center is located in Albertville, Ala., and currently supplies 175 independent supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.

Johnson’s Giant Foods currently operates three stores in Gadsden and Attalla, Ala.

Gerry D’Alessandro of The D’Alessandro Organization currently operates four stores in Bessemer, Trussville and Oxford, Ala.