Publix is a regional grocery store chain in the United States. The company is headquartered in Lakeland, Florida and has operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. As of 2016, Publix has 1,142 stores.
Publix was founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins in Winter Haven, Florida. The name “Publix” is a portmanteau of the words “public” and “utilities”. The first store was a self-service grocery store located on the corner of Merrick Avenue and Main Street in Winter Haven.
In 1934, Jenkins purchased a second store in Miami and expanded into the Panhandle of Florida. In 1935, the company constructed a warehouse and headquarters in Miami and shifted its focus to food service providers and expanded into Georgia. By 1940, Publix had stores in five Florida counties and one Georgia county.
In 1945, Jenkins sold a majority stake in the company to a group of Jacksonville businessmen; however, he retained a minority interest and remained as president. The new owners expanded the company’s operations into Alabama during the 1950s. During the 1960s, Publix experienced rapid growth and opened stores throughout Florida; it also began to enter into new markets such as Charlotte County, Sarasota County, Hillsborough County, Polk County, Brevard County, Indian River County, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, Collier County, Lee County, Hendry County, Broward County, Dade County (now Miami-Dade), Monroe County (the Florida Keys), and Martin County.
In 1971, Publix operated 132 stores in 10 Florida counties with annual sales of $169 million. By 1972 Publix had grown to 158 stores with annual sales of $200 million; by 1973 it had 210 stores with annual sales of $250 million; by 1974 it had 250 stores with annual sales of $300 million; by 1975 it had 290 stores with annual sales of $400 million; by 1976 it had 340 stores with annual sales of $500 million; by 1977 it had 385 stores with annual sales of $600 million; by 1978 it had 420 stores with annual sales of $700 million; by 1979 it had 445 stores with annual sales of $800 million.
In 1980 Publix recorded its first billion-dollar year for sales ($1.01 billion), which made it the fastest growing supermarket chain that decade; this was followed by five more billion-dollar years through 1985 ($1.32 billion in 1981; $1.55 billion in 1982; $1.75 billion in 1983; $2 billion in 1984; and $2.5 billion in 1985). As Publix grew rapidly throughout the 1980s several former executives left to start competing chains including: Kash n’ Karry (by former senior vice president Ira Kaufman); Sweetbay Supermarkets (by former president Charles Dalton); and President’s Choice (by former CEO David Dilworth).
By 1990 Publix was the dominant supermarket chain in Central Florida with 53% market share; as well as having a strong presence throughout much of Tampa Bay (with 46% market share), Orlando (with 42% market share), Sarasota/Bradenton (with 34% market share), Naples/Fort Myers (with 33% market share), Gainesville (with 27% market share), Ocala (with 25% market share), Tallahassee (with 20% market share)
As of 2016 there are 1,142 Publix locations across seven southeastern states: Alabama (68), Florida (749), Georgia (233), North Carolina (60), South Carolina (56), Tennessee (54) ,and Virginia (38)
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In conclusion there are 54 Publix locations across Tennessee.
