JACKSONVILLE, Fla.–BI-LO Holding, parent company of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, announced a long-term agreement under which Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. will provide warehouse, transportation and most procurement services for all 480 Winn-Dixie stores and continue providing services to all 206 BI-LO stores.
“We believe this deal will allow us to leverage the experience and buying power of C&S so that we can continue to reinvest in our company and focus on selling great products at a good value to our customers,” said Randall Onstead, president and CEO of BI-LO Holding.
By the end of the year, Winn-Dixie’s six distribution centers – located in Baldwin, Jacksonville, Miami and Orlando, Fla., Montgomery, Ala., and Hammond, La. – and the functions that support them, will be transitioned. C&S intends to operate the facilities as they are today, with minimal change to existing associates or their wages and benefits. As each distribution center is transitioned over to C&S, associates of the distribution centers will become employees of C&S.
“We thank our Winn-Dixie distribution center associates for their contributions over the years,” added Onstead. “While we are saying goodbye to them as part of the Winn-Dixie family, we are very pleased that this transition provides them with continued employment. In addition, they will provide C&S with the knowledge and experience needed for a smooth transition."
“C&S is very excited about extending its eight-year relationship with BI-LO to include the Winn-Dixie stores and to further extending our presence in the South. We are proud to be a part of the ongoing transformation of the BI-LO Winn-Dixie business and look forward to welcoming the many Winn-Dixie associates to the C&S family,” said Rick Cohen, C&S chairman and CEO.
C&S has provided procurement, warehouse and transportation services for BI-LO, LLC since 2005. The new agreement covers both the BI-LO and Winn-Dixie banners across the companywide network of nearly 700 stores.
About BI-LO Holding
BI-LO Holding, parent company of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is the ninth-largest traditional supermarket chain in the United States. The company employs nearly 60,000 associates who serve customers in 686 grocery stores and 484 in-store pharmacies throughout the eight southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. BI-LO and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and loyal associates, and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, please visit www.bi-lo.com and www.winn-dixie.com.
About C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers of Keene, N.H., is the largest food wholesaler and according to Forbes magazine, the 10th largest privately held company in the United States. The company distributes food to supermarkets, retail stores and military bases across the country. Currently, C&S serves approximately 4,000 stores from more than 50 locations in 12 states. Among our customers are many of America's best known retail grocers, including Stop & Shop, Giant of Carlisle, Giant of Landover, BI-LO, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P), Kroger, Safeway, Target and Whole Foods.
Source: BI-LO Holding