Winn-Dixie brings prices ‘Down Down’

Southeastern Grocers’ Winn-Dixie has kicked off a promotion that the supermarket chain said serves up “deeper discounts” on over 150 of its most-shopped products.

Under the “Down Down” program, announced Thursday, Winn-Dixie customers can save more than 15% on average by purchasing items marked the pointing red hand graphic on signs and tags across the store, Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeastern Grocers (SEG) said.

Plans call for participating “Down Down” products — including fresh produce, dairy, frozen food, center-store groceries and general merchandise — to be updated seasonally so shoppers get more savings opportunities throughout the year, SEG reported.

The price cuts come amid continued escalation of food price inflation. This week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Consumer Price Index for food increased 6.3% for the 12 months through December versus the prior-year period. The index for food at home climbed even more, up 6.5% year over year. All six major food groups in the index — meat, poultry, fish and eggs; dairy and related products; fruit and vegetables; cereal and bakery products; nonalcoholic beverages; and other food at home — saw pricing rise for 2021.

With the “Down Down” program, Winn-Dixie aims to help customers on a budget minimize additional spending on frequently purchased items, according to Dewayne Rabon, chief merchandising officer for Southeastern Grocers.

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“At Winn-Dixie, we know our customers are searching for the best deals, and continuing to save money on their grocery bills is a top priority,” Rabon said in a statement. “Through our commitment to lowering prices and keeping them down on the items our customers love most, we hope to make a truly meaningful difference in our customers’ lives.”

This year, U.S. shoppers expect to spend an average of 14% more per month on groceries, according to the KPMG Consumer Pulse Survey 2022 Grocery Forecast, released in December. Based on a survey of more than 1,000 consumers, the average monthly grocery spend is estimated at $611 for 2022 versus $532 in 2021, KPMG’s report said. Most respondents anticipate spending $101 to $500 per month on groceries in 2022, including 33% spending $101 to $300 (versus 36% in 2021) and 22% spending $301 to $500 (versus 24% in 2021).

Along with purchases of “Down Down” products, Winn-Dixie shoppers can optimize savings via the Winn-Dixie Rewards loyalty program in the chain’s mobile app, SEG added. The program offers points that can be redeemed for dollars off groceries, as well as Mystery Bonus point multipliers and personalized “rewards Boosters.”

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“When our customers shop our stores, they can trust they are getting quality products at affordable prices,” Rabon commented.

Overall, SEG operates approximately 450 stores under the Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Más banners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.