Southern supermarket chains BI-LO and Winn-Dixie are relying on outside PR and media relations counsel with the Dec. 19 announcement that BI-LO will acquire W-D for $560M.
New York-based Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is handling press inquiries and advising the companies. Eric Barnes, director of corporate communicatins for W-D, said the two companies both partnered with the PR firm for the merger announcement.
BI-LO is a 50-year-old Greenville, S.C.-based operator of 270 supermarkets in S.C., North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
Winn Dixie, based in Jacksonville, Fla., with 480 stores across the south, was founded in 1925 and did a stint in bankruptcy in 2005 [Kekst & Company worked PR for its 2005 Chapter 11 filing] amid increased competition from Wal-Mart.
The merger deal, which caused a 70-percent spike in W-D shares, was unanimously approved by its board and now goes to W-D shareholders.
The companies said the BI-LO and Winn-Dixie names will remain after completion of the deal, expected within 60-120 days. BI-LO chairman Randall Onstead said there is no overlap in the companies' stores.