Winn-Dixie partners with Blue Zones Jacksonville to promote healthier lifestyles in local communities
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Three Jacksonville Winn-Dixie stores named Blue Zones Project approved
Blue Zones Project Jacksonville has designated three Winn-Dixie stores as approved grocery retailers. The project works with residents, businesses, schools, civic leaders, grocery stores, restaurants and faith-based groups to promote healthier living. The other Blue Zones-approved grocery stores in Jacksonville are Clean Greens Mart, 1807 W. 45th St., Suite 1; The Corner at Debs Store, 1478 Florida Ave.; The Farmery Bakery & Bodega, 1303 N. Main St. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Mayo Clinic, UF Health and United Way of Northeast Florida are also partners in the initiative. The initiative is a national initiative based on studies of health, nutritional and environmental facets of communities where people live exceptionally long and healthy lives.
The project works with residents, businesses, schools, civic leaders, grocery stores, restaurants and faith-based groups in ZIP codes 32206, 32208, 32209, 32210 and 32244 to promote practices that support healthier living.
Partners in the initiative include Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, the city of Jacksonville, Community First Credit Union, Florida Blue, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Mayo Clinic, UF Health and United Way of Northeast Florida.
The project-approved Winn-Dixie stores are in Brentwood at 5210 Norwood Ave. in Gateway Town Center; Ortega at 5647 Roosevelt Blvd.; and at 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd.
Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie’s parent company, said in a statement that it achieved the designation by implementing the following enhancements:
Replacing candy at a dedicated checkout lane with options including fruits; granola bars; nuts; and Blue Zones–approved recipe cards.
Adding signage to help customers make healthy choices, such as encouraging increased water consumption.
Creating Blue Zones parking spaces to encourage shoppers to park farther from store entrances, promoting physical activity and daily movement.
Offering in-store promotions and training to inform employers and customers about healthy habits. Stores will feature children’s activities, such as a scavenger hunt at “Free Fruit for Kids” stands.
Blue Zones is a national initiative based on studies of health, nutritional and environmental facets of communities where people live exceptionally long and healthy lives.
Communities and organizations seeking project designation must meet benchmarks that include participation from residents, employers, schools, restaurants and grocery stores, according to the Blue Zones Project website. These include forming a local steering committee, developing a community blueprint and securing community buy-in.
Winn-Dixie will mark the designation and its 100th anniversary with community events Sept. 24 at three Jacksonville stores: 10 a.m. at 5210 Norwood Ave.; 1 p.m. at 5647 Roosevelt Blvd.; and 3:30 p.m. at 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd.
Events will include vendors, chefs, food tastings and other activities. Winn-Dixie will donate $1,000 to four local schools that are Blue Zones Project-approved or seeking approval.
“Community transformation is an integral part of our work,” said Nicole Hamm, executive director of Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, in a news release. “Winn-Dixie continues to show their commitment to the community by making healthy options available and accessible to everyone.”
“This achievement reflects our century-long commitment to feeding and enriching the lives of our neighbors and investing in the health of the communities we call home,” said Adam Kirk, chief customer and digital officer for Southeastern Grocers.
“Through our partnership with the Blue Zones Project, we’re making it easier for our customers to make nutritious choices that support wellness and longevity.”
The other Blue Zones-approved grocery stores in Jacksonville are Clean Greens Mart, 1807 W. 45th St., Suite 1; The Corner at Debs Store, 1478 Florida Ave.; The Farmery Bakery & Bodega, 1303 N. Main St., Suite 108; Premier Meats, 2401 W. Beaver St.; and Durkeeville & Co., 1801 N. Myrtle Ave.
JTA, city launch new program to help Northside residents get to grocery stores
The “Door to Store’ pilot program is designed to provide complimentary rides to grocery stores for residents living in the JTA’s Northside ReadiRide zone. The program is being funded with a $95,000 grant, according to JTA officials. The new Winn-Dixie store is expected to open Feb. 12 at Gateway Town Center. It replaces Publix, which pulled out of the shopping center in December. Until Winn- Dixie stepped up, only the Harveys on 48th Street — about a mile away — was the nearest grocer in an area where many residents have low incomes and lack of transportation to get beyond their neighborhoods. The grocery store has been holding free, weekly food distribution events at the site until the Winn-dixie opening, the store’s president and CEO said. The store will do a full food giveaway every Saturday until the full store is open because we understand the need of the community, Anthony Hucker, president and chief executive officer of Southeastern Grocers said.
tstepzinski@jacksonville.com
A new program aimed at alleviating food deserts in Northside neighborhoods will begin next month by the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
Beginning Feb. 1, the “Door to Store” pilot program is designed to provide complimentary rides to grocery stores for residents living in the JTA’s Northside ReadiRide zone.
The year-long pilot is intended to provide access for residents living in what are considered food deserts — areas where fresh fruits, vegetables and meats are not as easily available within a close proximity of their homes.
JTA chief executive officer Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., along with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council member Reggie Gaffney, unveiled the program Saturday morning in front of the future Winn-Dixie supermarket at Gateway Town Center, 5210 Norwood Ave., on the Northside.
Executives from Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, as well as representatives from other supermarkets participating in the program were present for the announcement,
“As the public transportation provider of bus service and our on-demand shuttle service in this area, the JTA saw an opportunity to expand the boundary of ReadiRide to provide greater access to fresh food,” Ford said.
In addition to the new Winn-Dixie at 5210 Norwood Ave., the other participating stores are Harveys Supermarket at 201 W. 48th St., 2261 Edgewood Avenue West and 777 N. Market St., Jacksonville Farmers Market, 1810 W. Beaver St., Price Rite, 3528 Moncrief Road, and Save-A-Lot, 8000 Lem Turner Road and 5751 N. Main St.
HOW IT WORKS
The service is provided through ReadiRide — JTA’s on-demand neighborhood shuttle service, which provides short trips to customers living in 11 Jacksonville neighborhood zones.
For the pilot program, Door to Store will only operate in the Northside ReadiRide Zone. JTA will provide complimentary rides to and from the seven grocery store locations within the Northside ReadiRide zone.
Reservations can be made for pick-up and drop-off rides up to two hours in advance by selecting the Door to Store option when customers call ReadiRide at (904) 515-2458, according to the program.
Specific return and departure times need to be scheduled at the time of the reservation in order to be eligible for the complimentary rides, JTA said.
COLLABORATION KEY
The program is being funded with a $95,000 grant, according to JTA officials.
“I am grateful to the mayor and City Council for leading this effort and partnering with us to help eliminate barriers to grocery stores in our community,” Ford also said.
Curry praised the program.
“I am grateful for the JTA’s efforts and excited to see this wonderful program take flight,” Curry said. “There are still other areas in our community that lack easy access to the healthy foods, so my team and I will continue to look for solutions to meet these important community needs.”
RELATED | Read more Jacksonville-area news
The new Winn-Dixie store is expected to open Feb. 12 at Gateway Town Center. It replaces Publix, which pulled out of the shopping center in December.
The pullout threatened to create a food desert in the Brentwood community. Until Winn-Dixie stepped up, only the Harveys on 48th Street — about a mile away — was the nearest grocer in an area where many residents have low incomes and lack of transportation to get beyond their neighborhoods.
Renovations of the 28,120-square-foot, leased space for the Winn-Dixie are nearly done. Meanwhile, the grocer has been holding free, weekly food distribution events at the site until the Winn-Dixie opening.
Gaffney praised Winn-Dixie and Southeastern Grocers for their work to bring a store to the shopping center and for the food distributions.
“They said, ‘Councilman Gaffney, we won’t do one food giveaway. We will do a full giveaway every Saturday until we open because we understand the need of the community,’ ” Gaffney said.
Ileen Watkins accompanied her granddaughter to the food distribution as JTA and city leaders announced the Door to Store program nearby.
“I think it will do good for a lot of people because not everbody has a car or somebody who can take them to the store when they need to go,” Watkins said of the program.
Anthony Hucker, president and chief executive officer of Southeastern Grocers, previously said the new Winn-Dixie will provide not only a full-scale grocery store but retail and construction jobs.
Curry noted Gaffney’s efforts and the subsequent collaboration to replace Publix in that community.
“The collaboration at work in this community is outstanding,” Curry said. “When the previous tenant announced their departure last year, putting this historic community at risk of losing vital access to fresh produce and nutrition, Councilman Gaffney and City Hall sprang into action to find a new partner that would avoid the creation of another food desert.”
Curry said they will “keep fighting the fight and making sure the people of Jacksonville have what they need” regarding the elimination of food deserts.
Teresa Stepzinski: (904) 359-4075
Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2025/09/26/blue-zones-winn-dixie.html