Wednesday, Winn-Dixie announced they will be lowering the prices on hundreds of grocery items in their stores, a move that some Picayune shoppers say will allow for extra cash for their household funds and put more food on the shelves at home.
According to a release from Winn-Dixie, the newly launched ‘Down Down’ pricing program is based on the grocery chain’s commitment to lower prices by bringing prices down and keeping them down.
“We know that almost one-in-five people in the Southeast are relying on food subsidies to feed their families every week. It is therefore not surprising that our customer surveys report that “affordable prices” is the most important requirement from a grocery,” President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers-home of Winn-Dixie Ian McLeod said in the release.
The new program follows the recent launch of “New Regular Pricing,” a move that reduced the prices on popular grocery items. With “Down Down,” customers will see even greater discounts on more than 400 regularly purchased items, on top of more than 3,000 “New Regular Prices” already lowered, the release states.
“Savings are so significant that a family shopping at Winn-Dixie will now save over $700 this year as a result of these lower prices,” McLeod said in the release.
For example, a Sanderson Farms whole chicken that was once $1.49 a pound is now $1 per pound, a Sanderson Farm Chicken breast that was $4 per pound is now $2.50 per pound and a loaf of Winn-Dixie brand sliced white/wheat bread that was $1.99 is now $1. Also, a 4-pound bag of Winn-Dixie brand granulated sugar was $2.35, the release states.
Mississippi and Alabama Regional Vice-President Drew Elkins said price matters, not just in the grocery aisles, but retail in general.
Elkins said Southeastern Grocers is always reinvesting in their company and evaluating savings for their customers.
Joyce Walton of Picayune said she shops at Winn-Dixie about two to three times a week and loves the price drops.
“The prices are lower here and it’s closer to my home,” she said. “We will have more groceries in the house and I won’t have to spend nearly as much. In Winn-Dixie, I know where everything is and I can find it on a specific aisle.”
Amy Adams recently relocated from Kiln and said she loves Winn-Dixie’s sales.
“This is my first time looking around,” she said. “And I will shop here from now on. I can save money and buy good products at a cheaper price.”
There are two Winn-Dixie locations in Picayune, at 801 Highway 11 and 1701 Highway 43 North.