By now, many people in Florida are aware that their local Winn Dixie store could potentially be transformed into an Aldi. Several confirmed conversions have taken place in cities such as Melbourne, The Villages, Deltona, Tampa, Ocala, Pensacola, Ormond Beach, Crystal River, and Fort Lauderdale. In South Florida alone, the Boynton Beach and Westlake locations are set to close in early 2025 and are expected to open as Aldi stores during the summer.
While the conversion is welcomed by certain readers, there are others who express their discontent. One major reason for this resistance is the absence of designated delis, bakeries, butchers, and liquor stores in Aldi. Additionally, Aldi’s stores are comparatively smaller than traditional grocery stores. However, Aldi has clarified that these items contribute to increased costs, which contradicts their streamlined business model.
According to Aldi spokesperson Eric Perriello, Aldi adopts a “no-frills” approach, emphasizing simplicity and efficiency.
“We don’t have the bakery. We don’t have the butcher and a lot of people like those services. But those services add costs, and a lot of times those costs get spread out over the items.”
There is discontent among certain Florida residents regarding this matter. In a Facebook post for Englewood, Florida, a user named Robert expressed his dissatisfaction, stating:
“Today I spoke (to) the workers at the Winn Dixie on Sunnybrook. They said it’s true that the store is becoming an Aldi’s and there will be no bakery, no deli, (and) no seafood counter. They said that where the meat section is, a wall will be built to divide the store in half. The right side will be the Adli’s and the left side will be offices. I was too annoyed to ask if the meat section was going too…What a total disservice to the community.”
However, a Facebook user named Michelle took to the Bayfoot Bay Community group to express her support for Aldi’s decision not to have a butcher. She posted the following comment defending the supermarket:
“Not only do they have meat, (but) most of Aldi’s meat is sourced from regional farms, which because it’s transported a shorter distance, comes at a lower cost.”