Publix Super Markets, Inc., widely known as Publix, is an employee-owned supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida. Established in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, this privately held company is entirely owned by current and former employees, along with the Jenkins family. Publix predominantly operates across the Southeast United States, with a strong presence in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and recently, Kentucky, marking its eighth operating state in January 2024.
September 6, 1930: First Publix Food Store Opens
On September 6, 1930, George Jenkins opened the first Publix Food Store in Winter Haven, Florida. The store spanned 3,000 square feet and was located at 58 Northwest 4th Street.
1930: George Jenkins Founds Publix
In 1930, George W. Jenkins, inspired by his vision of a customer-centric grocery store, founded Publix in Winter Haven, Florida. The name "Publix" was adopted from a struggling movie theater company.
1930: George Jenkins Founds Publix
In 1930, after leaving his job at Piggly Wiggly, George Jenkins opened the first Publix Food Store in Winter Haven, Florida. The store was 3,000 square feet and located at 58 Northwest 4th Street.
1930: Publix Founded
Publix was founded in 1930.
1934: First Publix Store Achieves Significant Sales
In 1934, just four years after its opening, the first Publix store in Winter Haven, Florida, achieved $120,000 in sales, demonstrating early success.
1935: Second Publix Store Opens
In 1935, George Jenkins opened his second grocery store, the Economy Food Store, also located in Winter Haven, Florida. This expansion further solidified his growing presence in the grocery industry.
November 8, 1940: Florida's First Supermarket Opens
On November 8, 1940, George Jenkins opened Florida's first true supermarket at 199 West Central Avenue. The store boasted innovative features like piped-in music, air conditioning, and electric-eye automatic doors.
1945: Publix Acquires All American Chain
In 1945, after the end of World War II, Publix expanded significantly by acquiring the 19-store All American chain of food stores. These stores were then converted into Publix Super Markets.
1959: Publix Offers Stock to Associates
Publix began offering stock to its associates in 1959, with an initial price of $10.00 per share.
September 1970: First Food World Store Opens
Responding to competitive pressure from other grocery stores, Publix opened its first Food World store in Orlando, Florida in September 1970.
November 1977: Lake Miriam Food World Opens
In November 1977, Publix opened the Lake Miriam Food World, its largest store at the time and the first to feature barcode scanners.
1985: Food World Brand Retired
Publix retired its Food World brand in 1985 due to the stores' inability to generate a profit or offer worker profit sharing.
October 30, 1986: First Publix In-Store Pharmacy Opens
The first Publix in-store pharmacy opened on October 30, 1986, in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
1989: Publix Closes Test Liquor Stores
In 1989, Publix closed its test liquor store locations after testing the market in the late 1980s.
1991: First Publix Outside Florida Opens
In 1991, Publix expanded beyond Florida for the first time, opening a store in Savannah, Georgia. This marked a significant milestone in the company's growth.
1993: Publix Enters Metro Atlanta and South Carolina
In 1993, Publix entered the metropolitan Atlanta area with new stores, expanding its presence in Georgia. The same year, the company also expanded into South Carolina, marking its third state of operation.
1995: One-Third of Publix Stores Have Pharmacies
By 1995, one-third of Publix stores had an in-store pharmacy.
1995: Publix Sued for Sex Discrimination
In 1995, a lawsuit was filed against Publix alleging sex discrimination in job assignments, promotions, and allocation of hours.
1996: Publix Expands to Alabama
In 1996, Publix further expanded its footprint in the Southeastern United States by opening stores in Alabama, its fourth state of operation.
1997: Publix Settles Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Publix settled the sex discrimination lawsuit filed against them in 1995 for $81.5 million in 1997. The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, requiring Publix to adjust some of its statements and practices.
October 2001: PublixDirect Launches
In October 2001, Publix launched its first online shopping site, PublixDirect, offering grocery delivery to customers.
2001: PIX Gasoline-Convenience Stores Launch
Publix began operating 14 PIX gasoline-convenience stores in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee in a limited trial period starting in 2001.
2001: Publix Loses Lawsuit Over Property Contamination
Publix lost a lawsuit in 2001 filed by a property owner whose land was contaminated by dry cleaning chemicals from an adjacent property.
2002: Publix Enters Tennessee Market
In 2002, Publix continued its expansion by entering the Tennessee market, further solidifying its presence in the Southeast.
2002: Publix Invests in Crispers
Publix made an investment in the Lakeland-based, health-conscious restaurant chain Crispers in 2002.
August 22, 2003: PublixDirect Service Ends
Due to low customer demand, PublixDirect, Publix's grocery delivery service, ceased operations on August 22, 2003.
2003: Publix Supports Bill Limiting Liability for Dry Cleaning Pollution
In 2003, Publix supported a bill, which passed, that prevents property owners from suing for contamination caused by dry cleaning chemicals dumped on neighboring properties if those properties are on a state clean-up list.
2003: Publix Re-enters Liquor Sales Market
Publix re-entered the liquor sales market in 2003, opening separate liquor stores with separate entrances.
2004: Walmart Wins Lawsuit Against Visa
In 2004, Walmart won a lawsuit against Visa over similar issues of unfair business practices related to merchant fees, setting a precedent for Publix's later suit.
2004: Publix Increases Stake in Crispers
In 2004, Publix increased its stake in the Crispers restaurant chain.
October 4, 2005: Publix Sues Visa and MasterCard Over Merchant Fees
On October 4, 2005, Publix filed a lawsuit against Visa and MasterCard, alleging unfair business practices related to increases in merchant account fees. This followed a similar successful lawsuit by Walmart against Visa in 2004.
December 2005: Publix Discontinues In-Store Photo Processing
In December 2005, Publix discontinued its in-store photo processing service, replacing it with an online or mail-order service through Snapfish. The agreement with Snapfish has since been terminated.
2005: Publix Introduces Aprons Make-Ahead Meals
In 2005, Publix introduced its Aprons make-ahead meals concept, with standalone stores in Jacksonville and Lithia, Florida, where customers could purchase meals to assemble in-store or have an associate prepare them for an extra charge.
2005: Publix Installs The New Release DVD Rental Kiosks
Publix began installing The New Release DVD rental kiosks in eight of its South Florida stores in 2005, with plans to expand to more locations.
2006: The New Release DVD Rental Kiosk Expansion
In 2006, Publix expanded The New Release DVD rental kiosks to additional South Florida stores.
2006: The Little Clinic Partnership Begins
In early 2006, Publix partnered with The Little Clinic to open medical clinics in select Publix stores. The clinics were staffed by nurse practitioners, offering services such as diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, minor injuries, wellness care, and prescriptions.
August 2007: Publix Offers Free Antibiotics
In August 2007, Publix announced that it would offer several types of antibiotics free to customers with a prescription. Customers could receive a maximum two-week supply.
September 27, 2007: First GreenWise Market Opens
The first Publix GreenWise Market opened on September 27, 2007, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
2007: Publix Purchases Remainder of Crispers
Publix purchased the remaining stake in the Crispers chain in 2007, becoming the full owner.
2007: Publix Introduces GreenWise Market Concept
In 2007, Publix introduced its GreenWise Market concept in response to the growing popularity of health food stores. GreenWise Markets focus on nutrition and offer products free from artificial ingredients, hormones, and antibiotics, as well as USDA-certified organic products. The first six stores were planned for various locations in Florida.
May 29, 2008: Second GreenWise Market Opens
The second Publix GreenWise Market opened on May 29, 2008, in Boca Raton, Florida.
November 6, 2008: Third GreenWise Market Opens
The third Publix GreenWise Market opened on November 6, 2008, in Tampa, Florida.
2008: Publix Shifts to "Hybrid" GreenWise Concept
From 2008 onwards, Publix shifted its focus to integrating the GreenWise concept into its traditional stores, creating "hybrid" locations that offered a selection of GreenWise products.
2009: Blockbuster Express Kiosks Replace The New Release
Following the acquisition of The New Release by NCR in 2009, Publix partnered with NCR and Blockbuster to replace existing kiosks with Blockbuster Express kiosks.
2009: Publix Closes Aprons Make-Ahead Meal Stores
In the summer of 2009, Publix closed both of its Aprons make-ahead meal store locations, citing a lack of customer interest.
March 2010: Publix Offers Free Metformin for Type II Diabetes
In March 2010, Publix announced that it would offer free Metformin, the generic version of Glucophage, for customers with Type II Diabetes. The medication is provided in various strengths, with a limit of a 90-day supply per prescription.
2010: Blockbuster Express Kiosk Installation Complete
By 2010, Publix completed the installation of Blockbuster Express kiosks at all of its locations.
2010: Publix Curbside Pilot Program Begins
In 2010, Publix introduced its Publix Curbside pilot program in Atlanta and Tampa, allowing customers to order groceries online and pick them up curbside.
May 9, 2011: Publix Closes The Little Clinics
On May 9, 2011, Publix closed all of its in-store Little Clinics to concentrate on pharmacy and grocery services.
May 2011: Publix Sells Crispers Chain
In May 2011, Publix sold the Crispers restaurant chain to Healthy Food Concepts LLC after the stores struggled to perform well during the economic downturn.
August 2011: Publix Offers Free Lisinopril
In August 2011, Publix began offering free 90-day supplies of the ACE inhibitor Lisinopril at all pharmacy locations. This medication is used to treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, diabetes, and some chronic kidney conditions.
2011: Publix Announces Expansion to North Carolina
In 2011, Publix announced its plans to expand into North Carolina, beginning with stores in the Charlotte metropolitan area. This marked the company's entry into its sixth state.
January 2012: Publix Curbside Program Ends
In January 2012, Publix ended its Publix Curbside pilot program, which allowed online ordering and curbside pickup.
2012: NCR Sells Entertainment Division
In 2012, NCR sold its entertainment division to Coinstar. This resulted in Blockbuster Express kiosks being replaced by Redbox machines in most stores by the end of the year.
2012: First Charlotte-Area Publix Opens
In 2012, Publix opened its first store in the Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan area, although the store was technically located on the South Carolina side of the border.
May 2014: Free Amlodipine Offered
In May 2014, Publix began offering free 90-day supplies of the calcium channel blocker Amlodipine, a drug used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain.
May 2014: Publix Removes Cephalexin from Free Antibiotic Program
In May 2014, Publix removed Cephalexin from its list of free antibiotics due to cost increases.
2014: Publix Opens First Store in North Carolina
In 2014, Publix opened its first store in North Carolina, marking the company's official entry into its sixth state of operation.
2014: First Publix Store Opens in North Carolina
In 2014, Publix opened its first store located entirely within North Carolina, in Ballantyne. This marked a significant milestone in the company's expansion into the state.
2014: PIX Stores Sold and Concept Discontinued
In 2014, Publix sold all PIX locations to other entities, including Circle K, and discontinued the concept. While locations were converted, Publix retains the rights to "PIX".
2014: Publix Fined for Discrimination, Decision Overturned on Appeal
In 2014, Publix was fined by the Broward County Board of Human Rights for discrimination in the termination of an LGBT employee. However, Publix appealed this decision, and the 17th Circuit Court overturned the board's ruling, stating it lacked sufficient evidence.
January 1, 2015: Publix Extends Health Coverage to Same-Sex Married Couples
Effective January 1, 2015, Publix announced that health coverage would be available to all legally married couples, including same-sex couples.
July 2016: Publix Partners with Instacart for Delivery
In July 2016, Publix announced its partnership with Instacart to offer online shopping and delivery services to customers in the greater Miami area.
December 2016: Publix Opens First In-Store Starbucks
Publix opened its first in-store Starbucks location in the Orlando area in December 2016.
2016: Publix Continues "Hybrid" GreenWise Concept
Publix continued its focus on integrating the GreenWise concept into its traditional stores until 2016.
February 2017: Montelukast Added to Free Medication Program
In February 2017, Publix added Montelukast, a medication for allergies and asthma, to its free medication program.
March 2017: Publix and BayCare Health System Partner for Telehealth Services
March 2017 saw Publix and BayCare Health System announce a partnership to provide telehealth and telemedicine services in select Tampa Bay-area pharmacies.
September 2017: Publix Curbside Returns
September 2017 marked the return of Publix Curbside, now in partnership with Instacart for online ordering and delivery. The service began with two pilot locations in Tampa.
2017: Publix Expands to Virginia
In 2017, Publix continued its expansion by entering the Virginia market, opening its first store in Bristol. This marked the company's seventh state of operation.
2017: Publix Announces Return to Standalone GreenWise Markets
In 2017, Publix announced that it would resume building standalone GreenWise Market locations.
2017: Publix Plans Store Opening in Boone, NC
In 2017, Publix announced plans to open a store in Boone, North Carolina, following the purchase of property there in 2015. This further solidified the company's growing presence in the state.
2017: Publix to Expand Delivery Program
In 2017, Publix announced its intent to expand its delivery program with the goal of offering the service from over 90% of its stores by the end of the year.
2017: Expansion of In-Store Starbucks
Following the opening of the first in-store Starbucks in 2016, five more opened throughout 2017.
2017: Publix's Political Contributions Spark Controversy
In 2017, Publix faced criticism and protests in the Miami area due to its contributions to conservative political causes and figures like Ron DeSantis and Adam Putnam. The company eventually decided to suspend corporate-funded political contributions and re-evaluate their practices.
2018: Free Montelukast Program Discontinued
At the close of 2018, Publix discontinued its program offering free Montelukast.
2018: Publix Criticized for Lack of PrEP Coverage, Then Reverses Course
In early 2018, Publix faced criticism from LGBT rights organizations for not covering PrEP HIV prevention drugs in their employee health plans. Shortly after, Publix revised its policy to include PrEP coverage.
2018: First New Standalone GreenWise Market to Open
The first of the new standalone GreenWise Market locations was slated to open near Florida State University in Tallahassee in 2018.
November 2019: Publix Stock Delisted from OTC Market
As of November 2019, Publix stock is no longer listed on the US OTC market.
January 2020: Publix Implements COVID-19 Safety Measures
Beginning in late January 2020, Publix began working with federal and state agencies and the CDC to implement safety measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures included closing food demonstrations, increasing sanitation and cleaning, and installing plexiglass partitions at registers and customer service desks.
July 21, 2020: Publix Mandates Face Masks for Customers
As of July 21, 2020, Publix required face masks for all customers in all of its facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 2020: Publix Donates to Ron DeSantis' PAC, Partners with Florida for Vaccine Distribution
In December 2020, Publix donated $100,000 to Florida governor Ron DeSantis' political action committee. While some speculated a connection to Publix becoming a partner in Florida's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, both DeSantis and Publix denied any link. This partnership allowed Publix to distribute vaccines to seniors, while other providers focused on broader efforts.
January 2021: Publix Begins Administering COVID-19 Vaccines
In early January 2021, Publix began administering COVID-19 vaccines in a 22-store pilot program in Florida, focusing on long-term care residents and staff, seniors, and healthcare personnel.
April 2021: DeSantis Defends Publix's Vaccine Distribution Role
In an April 2021 interview with 60 Minutes, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended Publix's role in the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution, stating that the company was the first to volunteer as a distribution partner and that 90% of Florida's senior population lived near a Publix location.
September 7, 2021: Publix Announces First Kentucky Location
On September 7, 2021, Publix announced its first store in Kentucky, to be located in northeast Louisville. The store was initially expected to open in late 2023 but was slightly delayed to January 10, 2024.
2021: Publix Begins Closing Aprons Cooking Schools
Starting in 2021, Publix began permanently closing the majority of its Aprons cooking schools.
2021: Publix Ranked on Fortune 500 List
Publix was ranked #69 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list.
April 1, 2022: Publix Stock Split
On April 1, 2022, Publix stock underwent a 5/1 stock split.
June 23, 2022: Publix Breaks Ground on First Kentucky Store, Announces Lexington Location
On June 23, 2022, Publix broke ground on its first store in Kentucky. On the same day, the company announced that it had signed a lease for a future store in Lexington, Kentucky, planned to open in late 2024.
December 2022: Publix Announces Third Louisville Location
In December 2022, Publix announced a third store location in Louisville, Kentucky, expected to open in the first half of 2024.
May 2023: Publix Discontinues GreenWise Market Banner
In May 2023, Publix announced that it would be discontinuing the GreenWise Market banner.
2023: Publix Continues Closing Aprons Cooking Schools
Publix continued to close its Aprons Cooking Schools into mid-2023.
2023: Publix Delays Opening of First Kentucky Store
The opening date for the first Publix store in Kentucky was slightly delayed to January 10, 2024.
January 10, 2024: Publix Expands to Kentucky
On January 10, 2024, Publix opened its first store in Kentucky, located in Louisville. This marked the company's entry into its eighth state.
May 1, 2024: Publix Stock Value Update
As of May 1, 2024, Publix stock is valued at $16.25 per share, following a 5/1 stock split on April 1, 2022.
2024: Publix Expands to Kentucky
In 2024, Publix expanded its footprint to eight states by opening its first store in Kentucky, marking the company's most recent state entry.