Winn-Dixie (Bankruptcy)

Winn-Dixie's 2005 bankruptcy illustrates how regional dominance provides no protection against national predators. The Southern supermarket chain's comfortable territory became contested when Walmart Supercenters invaded, applying the same competitive exclusion pressure that eliminated local grocers nationwide. Like an endemic species whose island is invaded, Winn-Dixie couldn't defend its niche against a competitor with superior supply chain economics.