Winn-Dixie files for bankruptcy in US

[atento]

US supermarket operator Winn-Dixie has filed for bankruptcy reorganisation under the Chapter 11 system. The retailer said that it had obtained a new US$800 million credit line and that its 920 stores in the south-east US and the Bahamas would remain open. The company is notably seeking court approval to terminate leases for two warehouses and 150 stores, and to sell off its manufacturing operations. Winn-Dixie's decision to file for court protection follows a series of losses. The company has suffered from competition from Wal-Mart and better-performing supermarket chains like Publix and Food Lion. In its latest quarterly results, Winn-Dixie reported a net loss of US$400 million on sales of US$3.1 billion (-5%).