It's common practice for retailers to structure real estate deals to keep competitors from opening a store in the same shopping center. Some have been known to even let spaces stay empty after they've closed a location rather than let a competitor gain a foothold. So, a lawsuit brought by Winn-Dixie against Dollar General over the sale of groceries probably shouldn't be a surprise.
The Jacksonville, FL-based supermarket chain has filed a suit in U.S. District Court looking to prevent Dollar General from selling groceries in 100 shopping centers the two companies share in the Sunshine State.
The suit claims, according to a Palm Beach Post report, that Dollar General is in violation of a 2007 judicial decision barring it from selling groceries in centers where Winn-Dixie, as the anchor "has the exclusive right to sell groceries."
An unidentified Winn-Dixie spokesperson told Supermarket News, "Winn-Dixie's decision to operate a grocery store at a particular location is typically contingent on obtaining the exclusive right to sell groceries within the store's shopping center."
Dollar General has denied the charges and plans to fight the suit.