Business
ALDI Celebrates New Melbourne Store Grand Opening July 10, 2025
MELBOURNE, Fla. (FNN) — America’s fastest-growing grocer, ALDI, continues its Florida expansion with the grand opening of its newly converted store in Melbourne at 961 E Eau Gallie Blvd. The store officially opens its doors on Thursday, July 10 at 8:45 a.m. and will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Grand Opening Celebrations and Giveaways
To mark the store’s debut, ALDI will treat the first 100 customers to an exclusive gift bag filled with ALDI-exclusive products and a chance to win through the ALDI Golden Ticket giveaway program. Shoppers can also enter a sweepstakes for a $500 ALDI gift card throughout the opening weekend.
Source: ALDI
“At our new Melbourne ALDI store, shoppers will find that every decision we make — from our product selection to store layout — is designed to provide the best products at the lowest possible prices of any national grocer,” said Matt Thon, Regional Vice President for ALDI. “Our customers can save up to 36% on their household grocery bills. As families seek better ways to stretch their dollar, ALDI is providing easier access to affordable, high-quality groceries right here in Melbourne.”
Source: ALDI
The ALDI Difference: Low Prices, Quality Products, and Sustainability
The new store highlights ALDI’s commitment to affordability and customer satisfaction, featuring:
Low-price leadership: Customers can save nearly $4,000 annually by choosing ALDI-exclusive products over name brands.
Exclusive brands: 90% of ALDI’s inventory are its own award-winning exclusive labels, from organic meats and fresh produce to sustainable seafood and specialty cheeses.
Sustainability efforts: ALDI remains an industry leader in eco-friendly retail, having eliminated single-use plastic bags in U.S. stores and actively reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Shoppers will also discover weekly ALDI Finds, limited-time seasonal food, home goods, and specialty items.
Online Shopping and Award-Winning Employment
Nearly all ALDI locations, including the new Melbourne store, offer curbside pickup and grocery delivery through shop.aldi.us. Additionally, ALDI’s reputation as a top U.S. employer remains strong, recently earning recognition as one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes for the seventh time in eight years.
For career opportunities at ALDI, visit careers.aldi.us.
For more Central Florida business and community news, visit FloridaNationalNews.com.
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — AdventHealth will host a grand opening ceremony for its new hospital in Minneola, marking a major expansion of health care services for South Lake County. Local elected officials, community leaders and residents are expected to join AdventHealth executives for the celebration.
The new facility is part of a broader effort to bring world-class, whole-person inpatient care closer to home for families across Minneola and the surrounding communities. South Lake County has faced a significant shortage of physicians across nearly every specialty, and the new hospital aims to help meet that growing demand.
AdventHealth Minneola is located within a newly developed district that will feature shopping, entertainment, housing and green space, creating a centralized hub for both residents and visitors.
WHEN:
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Arrival time: 10 a.m.
Program begins: 10:15 a.m.
WHERE:
1800 North Hancock Road
Minneola, FL 34715
MIAMI, Fla. (FNN) — Distinguished leaders, cultural icons, tourism executives, and community champions from across the Caribbean and its Diaspora are set to gather for the 2025 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards—an afternoon dedicated to excellence, service, and the advancement of the region.
This year’s ceremony will feature a landmark moment: the presentation of the inaugural CMEx Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Baltron Bethel, one of the Caribbean’s most influential tourism visionaries and a national icon of The Bahamas. Sir Baltron is recognized as the first and longest-serving Bahamian Director General of Tourism and a key architect of the region’s tourism growth and policy development.
Honoring Caribbean Changemakers
The 2025 CMEx Leadership Awards will recognize an exceptional roster of laureates whose work continues to shape Caribbean tourism, culture, and economic development. Honorees include:
Carole Alexis (Martinique), Dave Chang (Carnival Cruise Line), May-Ling Chun (St. Maarten), Ronella Croes (Aruba Tourism Authority), Laura Davidson (LDPR), Muryad de Bruin (Curaçao Tourist Board), Cathleen Decker (The Decker/Royal Agency), Loreto Duffy-Mayers (Barbados), Monique Hamaty-Simmonds (Cayman Islands), Clarisa Jiménez (Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association), Luce Hodge-Smith (British Virgin Islands), Janelle Hopkin (Grenada), Vonulrick “Von” Martin (Caribbeana Communications), Shomari Scott (Health City Cayman Islands), and Marcus Simmonds (Tortuga International Holdings).
“These exceptional honorees embody the spirit of leadership, innovation, and service that defines the best of the Caribbean,” said Bevan Springer, President of CMEx. “Their contributions across tourism, business, culture, and community development continue to transform the region.”
Regional and Global Dignitaries to Attend
The ceremony will welcome an array of regional officials and global tourism leaders, underscoring the event’s significance. Confirmed attendees include Lady Betty Hopkin (Grenada); Jennifer Matarangas-King (U.S. Virgin Islands); Cardigan Connor (Anguilla); Dona Regis-Prosper (Caribbean Tourism Organization); Latia Duncombe (Bahamas Ministry of Tourism); Joy Jibrilu (Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board); Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace (The Bahamas); Vanessa Ledesma (Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association); Wendy McDonald (Royal Caribbean Group); and Dr. Lisa Indar (CARPHA).
Tourism directors from Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, and Grenada will also be in attendance. Adding a cultural highlight, Bahamian vocalist Simmone Bowe will return as the featured performer, bringing her blend of jazz, reggae, R&B, and gospel to the stage.
Committed Partners and Sponsors
The 2025 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser is supported by a coalition of corporate, governmental, and destination partners whose contributions help sustain CMEx programs focused on youth development, education, and professional training throughout the region.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation serves as the Platinum Sponsor, with major sponsors including the Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board, British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission, Tropical Shipping, Unique Vacations Inc., The Decker/Royal Agency, Grenada Tourism Authority, Barbary Pyle Foundation, Tortuga Rum Company, Carnival Corporation & plc, Rodman Marketing Guru, and the St. Maarten Tourist Board.
Additional supporting sponsors include Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, Coco Palm, Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Jade Mountain, Ladera Resort, Marketplace Excellence Corporation, Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort, Park Hyatt St. Kitts, Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Tropical Attractions, and Villa Kaya.
The CMEx Leadership Awards celebrate individuals whose achievements span hospitality, cruise tourism, medical tourism, sustainable development, destination marketing, and media—fostering collaboration and a shared vision for a thriving Caribbean future.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — As the holiday season approaches and school cafeterias prepare to close for winter break, Central Florida organizations are joining forces to ensure that thousands of local children continue to have access to nutritious meals.
AdventHealth, Orlando Magic and Local Partners Mobilize Holiday Bus to Support Food-Insecure Families. Orlando, Florida, Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by Monica Hoyos / Florida National News
AdventHealth, the Orlando Magic, Florida Citrus Sports and Second Harvest Food Bank are providing grants to support schools and food pantries across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, benefiting the nearly 200,000 students who rely on free and reduced-cost lunch during the academic year.
Dr. Maria Vazquez, superintendent of Orange County Public Schools speaks with local media about community partnerships to provide meals for students over the winter break. Orlando, Florida, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by J. Willie David III/Florida National News)
“For many of our students, school meals are a vital source of nutrition. When schools close for winter break, that need doesn’t go away,” said Dr. Maria Vazquez, superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. “Together, we’re ensuring that every child has access to healthy food and the opportunity to thrive when they are not in school.”
COMMUNITY IMPACT & EXPANDING SUPPORT
AdventHealth’s most recent community survey found that food insecurity remains a major challenge in Central Florida, with more than half of school-aged children relying on school as their primary source of nutrition. To help bridge the gap, AdventHealth is launching the “Drive Out Hunger” Holiday Bus, which will stop at schools, hospitals, sporting venues and community hubs throughout December.
At each stop, residents will be encouraged to donate canned and non-perishable foods. With support from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, every item collected will be delivered directly to school food pantries and community partners.
“Helping children and families feel whole starts with meeting their most basic needs, and that includes access to healthy food,” said Sharon Line Clary, senior vice president of Community Impact and Partnership Engagement at AdventHealth. “This initiative reflects the heart of our community: people and partners uniting to lift one another up.”
AdventHealth Leads Regional Effort to Ensure Children Have Meals During School Break. Orlando, Florida. Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by Monica Hoyos / Florida National News
REGIONAL RESPONSE TO A CRITICAL NEED
Nearly 590,000 Central Florida residents — including over 150,000 children — face food insecurity on a daily basis. School district leaders say this collective effort is a tangible example of how community collaboration can relieve stress for families.
Serita Beamon, superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools, speaks with local media about community partnerships to provide meals for students over the winter break. Orlando, Florida, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by J. Willie David III/Florida National News)
“Strong schools are built on strong communities, and we are so grateful for AdventHealth who shares our commitment to caring for the whole child,” said Serita Beamon superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools. “Their generous support of our school food pantries will help ensure that students have access to meals when they’re off campus. This investment strengthens our community and provides critical support for our most vulnerable students and families and directly reflects how AdventHealth lives out their mission to care for our community.”
“Food insecurity remains a major concern in our Osceola County community and remains the primary pre-condition for learning,” said Dr. Mark Shanoff, Osceola County School District superintendent. “When community partners wrap their arms around our children and families during this pivotal time, it ensures stability and hope.”
Second Harvest Food Bank Chief Development Officer Greg Higgerson said the organization is grateful for AdventHealth’s leadership and the alignment of local partners in supporting families beyond the classroom.
For more than 115 years, AdventHealth has served the Central Florida community as a not-for-profit health care provider. This holiday season, its mission continues beyond the hospital doors — delivering nourishment, compassion and support for families in need.
For the full schedule of Holiday Bus stops and the list of most-needed food items, visit: www.FeelWholeHoliday.com
_________________________________________________________________________
News@FloridaNationalNews.com
Florida3 days agoDr. Rudolph Moise, Decorated Air Force Colonel and Former Haiti Ambassador, Considers Bid for Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s Seat
Business2 days agoAdventHealth to Open New World-Class Hospital in Minneola on Dec. 9
Florida4 days agoEx-Florida Speaker Paul Renner Says Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Cory Mills Must Resign or Be Removed from Congress
Florida2 days agoRep. Johanna López, Sen. Mack Bernard File Bills to End Corporal Punishment in Florida Schools
Central Florida News4 days agoFL-7 Moves to ‘Likely Republican’ as Scandals Weigh on Cory Mills, Dalton Sees Opportunity
