Winn-Dixie Promotes 40-Year Veteran Shawn Sloan to Chief of Store Operations

Shawn Sloan, a Winn-Dixie employee of more than 40 years who started as a bagger, has been named The Winn-Dixie Company's new chief of store operations, the retailer confirmed to Grocery Dive on Monday, Sept. 30, 2026.

Sloan most recently served as the Florida grocer's vice president of fresh merchandising. He also spent a dozen years as regional vice president for Winn-Dixie, leading operations across Florida, a company spokesperson wrote in an email.

Adam Kirk was Winn-Dixie's previous chief of store operations, according to the grocer's website. Kirk earlier worked as Southeastern Grocers' chief customer and digital officer.

The appointment caps a stretch of leadership churn at the supermarket chain.

In August, C&S Wholesale Grocers proposed a transaction to become the majority owner of The Winn-Dixie Company. Under that arrangement, Raymond Rhee, Winn-Dixie's former CFO, became CEO — a role he will hold until the transaction closes, which is expected sometime next year. Former CEO Anthony Hucker shifted to special advisor to the company.

The proposed deal came more than a year after C&S, together with a consortium of private investors led by Hucker, acquired Southeastern Grocers from Aldi. The investor group rebranded Southeastern Grocers as The Winn-Dixie Company in January.

For a grocer that has changed owners, names and CEOs within roughly two years, the elevation of a four-decade insider to the top store-operations job signals continuity on the store floor. Sloan will run the chain's store operations while Rhee steers the company toward the closing of the C&S deal.