JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct 26, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, and several college football games in the South with bowl game implications being played this weekend, it's no wonder the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts this will be the biggest Halloween celebration in years.

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:WINN) is ready to help make the weekend a frightfully good time with special bundles for tailgate, school or office parties, and for trick-or-treating. The grocer also is holding special pumpkin-decorating workshops for children this Saturday and Sunday afternoons at select stores. Any child visiting a Winn-Dixie store while wearing a Halloween costume on Saturday, Sunday or Monday will receive a fresh-baked cookie from the Winn-Dixie bakery.

"This weekend is one that will be fun for children and adults, and we're ready to help them celebrate," said Mary Kellmanson, Winn-Dixie's group vice president of marketing. "Whether they're tailgating before college games in Miami, Tallahassee, Jacksonville or Auburn, planning a party or gearing up for trick or treat, we have all the ingredients with special savings."

For tailgaters, Winn-Dixie offers eight pieces of fried chicken from the deli, Sabra Hummus and Stacy's pita chips for $11.99 (a savings of $2.58) with the Customer Reward Card. For school parties, purchase a dozen Halloween cupcakes from the bakery for $9.99 and receive a free 18-inch Mylar Halloween balloon. For trick-or-treaters, purchase a 10- or 11-ounce bag of Snicker's, Reese's or Kit Kat snack-sized candy for $4.99 and receive a free Halloween bag with a clear window that shows how much more space is available for candy. To keep children safe, Winn-Dixie also has lighted Jack-o-Lantern buckets that are visible from up to 300 feet away, as well as glow-in-the-dark necklaces, flashlights and batteries. All of these items and more also count toward fuel discounts with Winn-Dixie's fuelperks! Rewards program.

NRF's Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey shows nearly seven in 10 Americans plan to celebrate Halloween, up from 63.8 percent last year, and the most in survey's nine-year history. The survey also shows the average person will spend $72.31 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $66.28 last year.

About Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., is one of the nation's largest food retailers. Founded in 1925, the Company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. The Company currently operates approximately 480 retail grocery locations and approximately 380 in-store pharmacies in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. For more information, please visit www.winn-dixie.com.

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SOURCE: Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
Hunter Robinson, 904-783-5153 or 904-571-6052 (cell)
HunterRobinson@winn-dixie.com
or
St. John & Partners
Patrick McSweeney, 904-596-2085 or 904-923-4871 (cell)
patrickm@sjp.com