page_title: Publix
section_title: Florida expansion
hierarchical_section_title: Publix / History / Florida expansion
caption_attribution_description: English: Publix store in Miami Beach, FL
context_page_description: Publix Super Markets, Inc., commonly known as Publix, is an employee-owned, American supermarket chain headquartered in Lakeland, Florida. 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. Publix operates throughout the Southeastern United States, with locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.
  Publix stands as one of the largest U.S. regional grocery chains. Locations are found as far north as Fredericksburg, Virginia, as far south as Key West, Florida, while the westernmost location is in Mobile, Alabama. Today, the state of Florida still has the largest number of stores, with 831, about two-thirds of the outlets. As of January 2019, Publix employs about 193,000 people at its 1,239 retail locations, cooking schools, corporate offices, 9 grocery distribution centers, and 11 manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing facilities produce its dairy, deli, bakery, and other food products. The company is the largest employee-owned company in the US.
context_section_description: By 1959, Publix was the dominant supermarket chain in Central Florida, and began expansion to South Florida, opening a store in Miami and acquiring six stores from Grand Union. In 1963, the company built a distribution center in Miami, and began providing deli services. In 1970, sales surpassed $500 million; they reached $1 billion in 1974, when the chain expanded to include Jacksonville, Florida.
  In 1982, the company launched the Presto! ATM network; it soon installed ATMs in every Publix. Sales exceeded $5 billion in 1989.
  In 1983, Carol Jenkins Barnett joined the Publix Board of Directors and served in that role until 2016. During her time at Publix, the company grew into the largest supermarket chain in Florida, and expanded into five other states.
  On October 5, 1995, Publix opened its 500th store in Miami, Florida.
  Publix Super Markets bought 49 Florida stores from Albertsons. The deal was announced on June 9, 2008, and was completed on September 9, 2008. It included 15 locations in North Florida, 30 in Central Florida, and four in South Florida. The sale allowed Publix to operate four stores in a new market area for the company, Escambia County, Florida (the Pensacola area).
  On February 5, 2009, Publix opened its 1,000th store in St. Augustine, Florida, becoming one of only 5 U.S. grocery retailers to achieve that quantity of stores. The St. Augustine store is among Publix's first stores designed to be energy-efficient. The store includes motion sensor lights throughout the store, including on the freezer doors, and an overhead light system that can be controlled by each department.
caption: A 1960s-style Publix Super Market store marquee on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida
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