The parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarkets said it will file for bankruptcy protection.
Southeastern Grocers “will voluntarily file pre-packaged chapter 11 cases to efficiently execute its restructuring,” company spokesman Joe Caldwell said by email Thursday, according to our Florida Times-Union news partner.
Pre-packaged filings are used by companies wanting to quickly reset terms for their debts but remain in business.
“It is our goal to work through our financial restructuring as quickly and efficiently as possible and we expect to emerge within the next 90 days,” Caldwell said.
Six stores in North Florida and Southeast Georgia are expected to close as part of the restructuring.
Those are Harveys operations at 3000 Dunn Ave. and 1012 Edgewood Ave. N. in Jacksonville and Winn-Dixie stores at 9866 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville; 248 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park; 510 Tebeau St. in Waycross; and 2002 SW 34th St. in Gainesville.
A total of 94 stores throughout the company will close, but 582 will continue to operate.
“This course of action enables us to continue writing the story for our company and our iconic, heritage banners in the Southeast,” CEO Anthony Hucker said in a written statement.
Thursday’s announcement actually mentioned plans to remake many stores during a three-year overhaul of the chain.
The change “will create stunning, remodeled stores in a significant portion of our footprint,” a release from the company said. “This revitalization will also provide our customers with fresh, new concepts and products to cater to the local tastes and needs of the neighborhoods we serve.”
You can read a longer version of this story on jacksonville.com.
