Publix Super Markets, Inc., doing business as Publix, is an employee-owned American supermarket chain headquartered in Lakeland, Florida.[4] Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, Publix is a private corporation that is wholly owned by present and past employees and members of the Jenkins family.[5] Publix operates throughout the Southeastern United States, with locations in Florida (898), Georgia (219), Alabama (96), South Carolina (74), Tennessee (62), North Carolina (62), Virginia (24), and Kentucky (7).[6][4] Kentucky is the most recent addition to the Publix footprint, with the company's first store in that state having opened on January 10, 2024, in Louisville.[7]
Publix operates 1,442 store locations across the Southeast. As of May 2026, Publix employs about 260,000 people[8] at its retail locations, cooking schools, corporate offices, nine grocery distribution centers, and eleven manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing facilities produce its dairy, deli, bakery, and other food products.[4]
The National Center for Employee Ownership states that Publix has the largest Employee stock ownership plan of almost 6,500 organizations in the U.S.[4][9]
History
Early history
George Jenkins previously worked as a stock clerk and a manager at Piggly Wiggly from 1926 to 1930.[11] Jenkins's store had been bought out by a corporation. Jenkins went to share some ideas he had for the business but was turned down by corporate because the CEO was busy playing a game of golf. Jenkins left the store and aspired to create a new store, one where all ideas from associates and others were welcome. He also believed that if employees had an ownership stake in the company, everyone would benefit. "Invest in Others" is a core Publix value that inspires pride and teamwork in associates and their leaders.
When Jenkins decided to open his own grocery store, he adopted the name "Publix" from a struggling New York-based movie theater company (with 19 opulently decorated movie houses in Florida) called Publix Theatres Corporation, a Paramount affiliate.[12] Jenkins stated, "Most of the theaters were closing up, and I liked the sound of the name, so I just took it for my store."[13]
Stores
Each store provides products and services in its grocery, deli, bakery, produce, floral, meat, and seafood departments. Some stores have valet parking, cafés, sushi bars, pharmacy departments, and/or a liquor store. The submarine sandwiches sold at Publix delis are often referred to as "Pub subs".[54][55]The customer service counter also provides check cashing, money orders, Western Union services, Rug Doctor rentals, and lottery tickets. Some stores also provided DVD rental services. In December 2005, Publix discontinued its photo processing service, replacing it with an online or mail-order service via the Snapfish program.[56] The Snapfish agreement has since been terminated, and Publix no longer offers photo services.
Aprons
Working environment
Publix has consistently been named one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. The company is one of only four (as of 2025)[16] to have made the list every year since its inception in 1998.[113]
The company, founded in 1930, has never had a layoff.[114][12]
In 1995, Publix was sued "for sex discrimination in job assignments, promotions and allocation of hours" and settled for $81.5 million in 1997.[115] Publix had claimed that the suit was simply an effort by the United Food and Commercial Workers to unionize the company, but the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and required Publix to "correct some of its statements."[116]
Political giving
Publix political giving is coordinated through their Political Action Committee (PAC), which the company leverages to promote business interests.
According to the Miami New Times, Publix's recent political leanings favor conservative causes, such as opposing the legalization of medical marijuana and the regulation of polystyrene, better known by the brand name Styrofoam. Publix also contributes to the PAC supporting Ron DeSantis, who some conservatives argue is a business-friendly governor.[119] Following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, contributions to other conservative leaders—specifically Adam Putnam—resulted in local protests in the Miami Area.[120] Moments before the protests began, the company announced that it would suspend corporate-funded political contributions and reevaluate their political funding practices.[120] Six days after halting political contributions, the Florida Retail Federation, a trade group heavily funded (>80% in 2017) by Publix, donated an additional $100,000 to Putnam's Florida Grown PAC.[121]
Locations
Distribution centers
Distribution centers are located in:[4]
- Alabama
- McCalla – non-perishables
- Florida
- Boynton Beach – grocery
- Deerfield Beach – perishables
- Jacksonville – dairy, frozen food, grocery, meat, produce
- Lakeland – frozen food, grocery, meat, dairy, produce, general merchandise (low velocity)
- Miami – grocery
- Orlando – frozen food, meat, produce, grocery, pharmacy
Legal disputes
In 2003, Publix supported a successful bill that prevents owners from suing if their land is polluted by dry cleaning chemicals dumped on an adjacent property, if the adjacent property owners are on a state clean-up list. Publix lost a 2001 lawsuit filed by an owner whose property had been contaminated in this manner.[125]
On October 4, 2005, Publix sued Visa and MasterCard, citing unfair business practices over their unannounced and non-negotiable increases in merchant account fees.[126] Wal-Mart won a similar lawsuit against Visa in 2004.
In 2014, Publix was fined by the Board of Human Rights of Broward County, Florida for discrimination involved in the termination of an LGBT employee.[127] Upon appeal, the 17th Circuit Court found that the decision by the Board of Human Rights of Broward County was "not supported by competent, substantial evidence" and quashed the order.[128]
See also
- Carol Jenkins Barnett
- Howard Jenkins
External links
References
- Publix CEO Todd Jones stepping down Jan. 1. President Kevin Murphy will take the reins Yahoo Finance, 2023-11-20, retrieved 2024-01-05^
- Publix Real Estate retrieved March 13, 2017^
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K Annual Report SEC.gov, retrieved March 7, 2018