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This post is part of our Big Company, Small Town series, featuring large companies and the small towns in which they are headquartered.
Publix Super Markets is the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the U.S. with 936 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. You must be an employee of Publix to buy stock in the company. More than 30% of the stock is owned by employees, and more than 30 million shares are owned by members of the founding family -- Jenkins. Its chairman is a family member -- Charlie Jenkins, Jr.
Publix ranks number 11 on the Forbes list of largest private companies, and 107 on the Forbes 500 list. It employs more than 100,000 employees, with revenues over $23 billion.
Yes, if you haven't figured it out, the company was founded by a Jenkins -- George W. Jenkins, Jr., in Winter Haven, Florida, in 1930. In 1940, Jenkins built Florida's first supermarket by mortgaging an orange grove. Jenkins moved the headquarters for Publix to Lakeland, Florida, in 1951, and built its first distribution warehouse there. In 2005, Publix celebrated its 75th anniversary.
George Jenkins, known as "Mr. George" to his employees, was well-loved throughout Polk County -- the county for both Winter Haven and Lakeland. You'll still hear people say, "If George Jenkins were alive today ..." He was so well-loved that there is a boulevard, high school, and arena named after him in Lakeland.
George Jenkins was known for his philanthropy throughout central Florida. Once in an interview he was asked, "If you hadn't given away so much, how much do you think you would be worth today?" His response, "Probably nothing." The company maintains this tradition of giving back to the community. In addition to giving grants to thousands of local projects, where its stores are located, Publix, its employees, and its customers, also participate in five companywide fund-raising campaigns -- the Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Children's Miracle Network, United Way, and Food for All.
When you go to Lakeland you'll see Publix facilities all over the town, in addition to its headquarters, including a distribution center, a bakery plant (odors can make you very hungry), dairy plant, deli kitchen, fresh foods center, and a printing supplies center.
Lita Epstein has written more than 20 books, including Trading for Dummies and Reading Financial Reports for Dummies.
Be sure to check out more Big Company, Small Town posts.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. Publix is AMAZING!!!!!
Posted at 7:32AM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Claire Langford
2. I just love this store, the people are so nice especially the one on oakhurst road in seminole and the gals there are so friendly. we visit there to see my folks and the people are so nice. the prices are comparible but we prefer publix instead of albertsons or winn dixie. where the food there is not as good.
I am so happy that they are buying out all the albertsons in the area. it would be nice to see that Publix go into 113th street and Park blvd big new store take over. I heard some employees of publix at the seminole mall say they are moving to the old albertsons soon... that would be great so i do not have to drive over i can just walk around the corner and buy what i want, instead of driving.
I really like the food varieity and i think they do a great job when you are wanting to order somthing that they have they will get it for you to Please you and that to me is great old time feel for a new store attitude. keep up the great work. We love you here!!
PS glad the stores and corp is owned by employees instead of some big corp operation of some big wigs!!
Posted at 10:42AM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Linda
3. Publix is a great place to work also.
Posted at 11:19AM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Karen
4. I grew up with Publix in Florida- When I moved to South Carolina--there is NO Publix.
Will there be one in the Myrtle Beach area any time soon?
I know it would be great!
Posted at 1:24PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by D Wolford
5. I only shop at Publix, I cant make myself go into a Dirty Dixie or Albertsons.
Posted at 4:47PM on Jun 24th 2008 by jplanejohn
6. This is the BEST grocery chain on the planet.I wish them continued success,but I wish I could buy some stock! lol
Posted at 1:36PM on Jun 29th 2008 by Brad Kirkland
7. It's one of the smartest grocers as it offers good service and convenience of location. It's biggest attribute is the one that is unnoticed which is uniformity of store layouts. They only use a few which means that a customer can acclimate quickly and find what you want without a major search.
Posted at 1:37PM on Jun 29th 2008 by william lindblad
8. I have been a faithful customer of Publix since I lived in Lakeland in the mid 1970's. It has occurred to me on numerous occasions that as I read Wednesday's paper, your ads do not become effective until the next day. Many times, including this morning, I select and make a list of items I want to purchase and plan a trip for the same day. Then I realize I cannot take advantage of the sale items, and cancel my trip for that day. Many times, the ads get lost or misplaced, and I end up not buying the things that I had orignally selected from the ad. I think you would get a greater response from your ads if you made them effective the day they're published. My paper is delievered very early, as most are, and I read it early, probably as most people do, so you would not lose a day's advertising benefit.
Thanks for your consideration.
Posted at 1:58PM on Jul 9th 2008 by Bette J. Petersen