Winn-Dixie Unveils a Fresh, New Shopping Experience in Central Florida

APOPKA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:WINN) today celebrated the completion of its newly remodeled store here, located at 1565 U.S. 441 North (Orange Blossom Trail) in Errol Plaza. The store’s transformation goes beyond the physical facilities – most notably the farmer’s market at the store’s entrance – to what’s inside the store and how it’s sold.

“We welcome our neighbors and friends to come in and see their new Winn-Dixie.”

Just past the greatly expanded produce department is a massive new deli serving restaurant-quality entrees and side dishes for guests who are too time-stressed or just don’t want to cook a meal. Experienced chefs direct preparation of the wide variety of foods – from made-to-order pizza, seven flavors of chicken wings, barbecue bar, and a carving station with fresh fish, poultry and prime rib.

“We are excited to deliver on our promise of providing our guests with a fresh, new shopping experience that is fun and imaginative,” said Dan Lafever, Winn-Dixie regional vice president. “This store exemplifies our commitment to the residents of Apopka and serves as a one-stop grocery destination catering to the needs, tastes and preferences of the surrounding community.”

Features specific to the newly remodeled Apopka Winn-Dixie include:

New store entrance with outdoor market Expanded produce department with wood floor, featuring a wide selection of the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables Expanded deli department with wood-burning rotisserie, carving station serving freshly roasted meats, and custom sandwich and sub shop Hot food selections, including fresh, made-to-order pastas, barbecue, fried chicken, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, and wing bar serving seven flavors of chicken wings Expanded selection of specialty desserts, pastries and made-to-order cakes in the bakery, along with loaves of warm, freshly baked bread 11 different freshly made compound salads, including spinach antipasti, curried cous cous, and green apple rocky road

Wide variety of meats carved to order in our full-service meat department Expanded seafood department with fresh sushi created by an on-site sushi chef Expanded selection of international cheeses, staffed with an experienced cheese specialist Expanded selection of domestic and imported wines Remodeled and expanded pharmacy with wellness center Upgraded floral department, featuring an assortment of seasonal merchandise and specialty gifts Highly polished stained concrete floors that look like granite New Wi-Fi Internet café sitting area with complimentary coffee

Physical changes in the store include hardwood flooring throughout the produce, deli and bakery departments, and highly polished concrete floors elsewhere in the store, as well as modern lighting and brighter, more colorful décor that showcases the thousands of offerings. Besides the expansive wine and cheese sections staffed by knowledgeable specialists, the Apopka Winn-Dixie also has expanded meat and seafood departments and a dedicated area offering free Wi-Fi access and complimentary coffee. Guests also can find “Winn-Dixie” and “Winn-Dixie Organic & Natural” private-label products, which offer national-brand quality at substantial savings. “We are committed to providing our Apopka guests with the greatest value and quality possible,” Lafever added.

“With an enhanced product selection and expanded departments, guests will enjoy a fresh and local shopping experience every time they visit our store,” said Tom Seay, store director. “We welcome our neighbors and friends to come in and see their new Winn-Dixie.”

To celebrate the grand reopening, Winn-Dixie will host a series of celebrations throughout August that include cooking demonstrations, food tastings, live entertainment, raffles, giveaways and more.

*See schedule of events below for full details.

This is the first of several of the new “transformational” remodeled Winn-Dixie stores in Central Florida. Construction and renovations have begun on Winn-Dixie #2233 at 951 West State Road 434 in Longwood and Winn-Dixie #2266 at 7800 Highway 17-92 in Fern Park. The grocer plans to open 17 stores like the one in Apopka in the coming year at a cost of approximately $5.5 million per store.

About Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., is one of the nation’s largest food retailers. Founded in 1925, the Company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. The Company currently operates 484 retail grocery locations, including 379 in-store pharmacies, in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. For more information, please visit www.winn-dixie.com.

Schedule of Events

All events will take place at the Winn-Dixie at 1565 U.S. 441 North in Apopka, Fla.

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 7:00 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Grand Opening Day

Enjoy complimentary coffee and food sampling throughout the day as you discover the fresh, new shopping experience at your Apopka Winn-Dixie. Live musical entertainment and complimentary cake will provide a festive mood from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 4, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Open House at Apopka’s Winn-Dixie Store

Discover a fresh, new shopping experience at your Apopka Winn-Dixie during our Open House event. The community is invited to come join the celebration and tour the newly remodeled store. Guests will enjoy delicious product samplings that highlight the new store features (and receive recipe cards for featured items), live entertainment, giveaways and more.

Friday, August 5, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

A Taste of Winn-Dixie

Enjoy A Taste of Winn-Dixie with an evening of wine and cheese sampling, a chocolate fountain paired with fresh fruit, food-tasting stations highlighting new store features, including the enhanced deli and bakery, live music, gift card raffles and more.

Saturday, August 13, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A Day with the Florida Insider Fishing Report

Celebrate Apopka’s historic legacy as “the fishing capital of Florida” when Sun Sports’ Florida Insider Fishing Report drops anchor at Apopka’s new Winn-Dixie. Capt. Rick Murphy will demonstrate how to prepare and cook your catch. Capt. Rick and other guides from the show will conduct a fishing clinic for kids and also teach casting techniques in a specially constructed pond outside the store. The fun continues inside with delicious product samplings that highlight new store features.

Saturday, August 20, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Eat Well, Live Well

For store guests who are looking to improve their overall health and well-being, the Eat Well, Live Well event will introduce shoppers to their neighborhood pharmacist, who will be on hand to provide medication counseling. Guests will also enjoy complimentary blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose health screenings, chair massages, healthy eating tips provided by a certified dietician, healthy food tastings, a floral-arranging workshop, gift card raffles, giveaways and more.

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