Winn-Dixie to close 13 South Florida stores

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. says it will close 30 of its underperforming stores and cut more than 120 jobs to cope with weak sales. Most of the locations are in Florida, 13 in our area.

The company said the difficult economic and retail environment have hurt its sales. As a result, it will close certain stores and an unspecified number of employees at those sites. In addition, it will cut 120 corporate and field support staff and consolidate its four operating regions into three.

Winn-Dixie plans to save $12 to $17 million annually as a result, starting in the first quarter. The company said it will disclose which stores will be closed on its website Thursda y.

"We continue to operate in a particularly difficult economic and retail environment in the Southeast," Chairman, CEO and President Peter Lynch. The store closures and position eliminations are expected to be completed by the end of the company's 2011 first quarter, which ends on Sept. 22.

The grocery chain also reaffirmed its guidance for the 2010 fiscal year, saying it would be able to meet its goals through cost controls and management of promotions, despite deteriorating sales.

Underperforming Winn-Dixie Stores That Are Scheduled To Close by September 22, 2010:

In Florida, a total of 24 stores will close

Boca Raton: Store 263 - 291 W. Camino Real, 33432
Boynton Beach: Store 256 - 4770 N. Congress Ave., 33426
Boynton Beach: Store 257 - 9840 Military Trail, 33436
Clermont: Store 2334 - 1100 US Hwy 27, 34711
Deerfield Beach: Store 265 - 1101 S. Military Trail, 33442
Delray Beach: Store 268 - 1565 S. Congress Ave., 33445
Deltona: Store 2241 - 1200 Deltona Blvd., 32725
Ft. Lauderdale: Store 230 - 2420 North Federal Hwy., 33301
Greenacres: Store 356 - 6356 Forest Hill Blvd., 33415
Jacksonville: Store 6 - 10915 Baymeadows Road, 32256
Lake Worth: Store 260 - 6600 Hypoluxo Road, 33462
Lake Worth: Store 281 - 4105 State Road 7, 33467
Lake Worth: Store 337 - 6406 W. Lake Worth Road, 33463
Leesburg: Store 2347 - 1103 W. North Blvd., 34748
Loxahatchee: Store 288 - 5060 Seminole Pratt-Whitney Road, 33470
Orlando: Store 2216 - 2103 Americana Blvd., 32839
Orlando: Store 2281 - 4400 Hoffner Road, 32812
Orlando: Store 2652 - 4520 S. Semoran Blvd., 32822
Orlando: Store 2654 - 10537 E. Colonial Drive, 32817
Pembroke Pines: Store 278 - 15859 Pines Blvd., 33027
Plantation: Store 222 - 901 North Nob Hill Road
Poinciana: Store 2265 - 900 Cypress Pkwy., 34759
Sarasota: Store 668 - 3500 N. Tamiami Trail, 34234
Titusville: Store 2209 - 700 Cheney Hwy., 32780