Winn-Dixie denies it is considering a name change

Winn-Dixie denies it is considering a name change

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Within hours of TMZ reporting that Winn-Dixie was considering changing the name its used for more than 100 years, a spokesman for Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers said there are no immediate plans to do that. TMZ reported that sources at Winn-Dixie said the chain is considering the name change because, just like The Chicks, it deems the term Dixie as problematic due to ties to the old south and its way of thinking.But Southeastern Grocers spokesman Joe Caldwell emailed a comment late June 25: While we have no immediate plans to rename this banner, we have always been and will continue to be responsive to the needs and concerns expressed by the communities we serve.Not only did The Dixie Chicks drop Dixie from its name, Lady Antebellum dropped Antebellum, Confederate statues and monuments are coming down in Jacksonville and across the country, and governments and school districts are considering changing the name of buildings amid continuing calls for racial justice most recently sparked by the death of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police. Caldwells email went on to say: At Southeastern Grocers were committed to cultivating an inclusive culture and community that promotes belonging, inclusion and diversity. As such, we stand against racism and support the Black Lives Matter movement across our country.The manager of corporate communications email continued: Our Winn-Dixie banner has proudly served our communities for nearly 100 years, however, many things have changed during that time. While we have no immediate plans to rename this banner, we have always been and will continue to be responsive to the needs and concerns expressed by the communities we serve.