8 Big Differences Between Publix and Winn-Dixie Every Floridian Should Know

Some Winn-Dixie stores have been switching over to Aldi.

It’s one way shopping at Publix and Winn-Dixie can look different these days.

Here are the big differences between the two chains that many Floridians can feel but not all can explain.

1. Chain Ownership

If you shop at Publix, you’re buying from the largest employee-owned company in the United States.

The National Center for Employee Ownership put Publix at No. 1 on its largest employee-owned companies list, updated in October 2025.

You might assume Aldi owns Winn-Dixie, since Winn-Dixie’s February 2025 announcement says Aldi bought Southeastern Grocers, the company behind the banner, in March 2024.

It says the banner itself went to a consortium of private investors.

In January 2026, Southeastern Grocers renamed itself The Winn-Dixie Company, according to a Business Wire release.

2. Store Counts

Publix ended 2025 with 889 supermarkets in Florida, up from 873 a year earlier.

Its stores stretch across eight states, so Florida is only part of its map.

Grocery Dive reported in October 2025 that Southeastern Grocers was selling 32 Winn-Dixie and eight Harveys Supermarket stores in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Afterward, Southeastern Grocers would run around 130 grocery stores across Florida and southern Georgia.

Even if all 130 of those grocery stores were in Florida, you’d still find more than six times as many Publix supermarkets there.

Publix’s annual filing says it opened 52 supermarkets across the chain in 2025.

3. Rewards Programs

Winn-Dixie Rewards pays you 1 point for every $2 you spend, and 100 points equal $1 off.

Winn-Dixie says its weekly sale prices and specials are only for rewards members.

Publix says digital coupons are available to anyone with a Club Publix account, and members can view the weekly ad early.

4. Coupon Stacking

At Publix, you can put a manufacturer coupon plus either a Publix or a competitor coupon on the same item, its coupon policy says.

Winn-Dixie’s coupon policy, effective August 2021, limits redemption to one coupon per item.

That one coupon can be a manufacturer, electronic or Winn-Dixie coupon.

So a box of Honey Nut Cheerios can take two coupons at Publix, but only one at Winn-Dixie.

For coupons that take dollars off your whole order, Publix allows one Publix coupon and one competitor coupon a day per household.

Winn-Dixie allows one Winn-Dixie coupon a day per household for those.

5. Coupons on Your Phone

If you show a coupon on your phone at Publix, its coupon policy says the chain doesn’t accept it.

Publix says digital coupons you clip to a Club Publix account are redeemed by entering your phone number at checkout.

Winn-Dixie’s coupon policy says rewards points coupons are the only ones accepted on a mobile device.

The same policy bars those coupons on a mobile device at self-checkout lanes.

6. Satisfaction Guarantees

Publix's guarantee promises a full refund on request if a purchase doesn't give you complete satisfaction for any reason.

Winn-Dixie's help center says that if you're not 100% satisfied with one of its products, you can return it for a replacement or a full refund.

The same answer guarantees the quality and satisfaction of all its store-brand products, including Know & Love.

7. Online Ordering

Publix says its delivery and curbside pickup are powered by Instacart.

Coupons you clipped to your Club Publix account aren't redeemable through Instacart, Publix's FAQ says.

Winn-Dixie's help center says online options may include DoorDash, Uber Eats, Amazon, Shipt and Instacart, depending on your location.

8. Pharmacies

Publix Pharmacy administers vaccines for COVID-19, shingles, pneumonia and more, its pharmacy page says.

You can manage and pay for your prescriptions online.

In September 2023, FOX 35 Orlando reported that Winn-Dixie was closing all its pharmacies and transferring prescriptions to certain CVS and Walgreens locations.

Aldi Conversions

Winn-Dixie's February 2025 announcement said Aldi would convert about 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the Aldi format.

That multi-year conversion began in March 2024 and was expected to conclude in 2027.

Grocery Dive reported in February 2025 that roughly 100 of those stores were slated to reopen as Aldi stores by the end of 2025.

Store Brands

Winn-Dixie's Our Brands page lists store brands such as Lip Lickin' Chicken, Hickory Sweet and Fisherman's Wharf.

Shop Lip Lickin' Chicken and you'll find wings, tenders and popcorn chicken.

Hickory Sweet is a hardwood-smoked bacon, and Fisherman's Wharf covers fresh and frozen seafood.

Know & Love covers gluten-free, vegan and kosher products, among others.

Publix sells GreenWise, and Publix says its GreenWise meats and poultry are raised without antibiotics or added hormones.

Gift Cards

Publix says its gift cards don't expire, and it doesn't charge fees on them.

Winn-Dixie's gift card page makes the same promise, with no expiration date and no fees.

You can't use a Publix gift card to buy other gift cards or get cash back.

You can't use a Winn-Dixie gift card for alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets or flu shots.

Liquor Stores

When you want a bottle, Publix Liquors has over 350 stores across the southeast, its page says.