Winn-Dixie Sets Date for Special Shareholders Meeting

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. will hold a special shareholders’ meeting at the Southeast regional grocer’s in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 9. Among other items on the agenda will be the chance for attendees to consider and vote on the proposal to approve the Winn-Dixie’s planned merger with a subsidiary of Mauldin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo LLC.

News of the pending $560 million merger was revealed in December 2011. PG reported last month that Winn-Dixie President, CEO and Chairman Peter Lynch will step down when the merger becomes final, and Bi-Lo Chairman Randall Onstead will lead the combined companies, which will have around 690 stores and 63,000 employees across eight southeastern states.

The deal is expected to close before April.

Winn-Dixie currently operates about 480 retail grocery locations in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.