By Alabama Public Radio
Jacksonville, FL – A group of key Winn-Dixie executives will receive retention bonuses totaling $12 million if they stay with the supermarket giant until it emerges from reorganization. A federal bankruptcy judge approved the Jacksonville-based company's plan Thursdsay to award almost 300 of its key employees. The decision came after the judge heard objecting testimony from an attorney representing retirees and the U.S. Trustee, who called the expenditures excessive. Winn-Dixie is expected to announce later in June how many of its stores will close and how many of its 78,000 employees will lose their jobs. The grocery chain has about 1,200 stores across the Southeast, including in Alabama.