Major family-owned Florida and southeastern chain dating from the 1920s.
The history section of their website
is very informative.
1930s:
In the midst of the Great Depression, George Jenkins walked away
from the security of a good job to open the first Publix store in
Winter Haven, Fla. This store set not only a new precedent for cleanliness
and beauty, but also the Publix standard for employee relations. Mr.
George, as he was affectionately called by his associates, established
profit-sharing and employee ownership. Gross annual sales in the early
years averaged about $100,000, slowly rising to $120,000 by 1934.
In 1935, a second store opened on the other side of the downtown
business district. While many of his competitors' store shelves went
bare for lack of goods, Mr. George traversed the country seeking products
to send back home to stock his stores. In his travels, he also garnered
ideas about how to better the business.
1940s:
In 1940, George Jenkins mortgaged an orange grove he had acquired
during the Depression for a down payment on his dream store - Florida's
first supermarket. He built his "food palace" of marble,
glass and stucco, and equipped it with innovations never seen before
in a grocery store. Air conditioning. Fluorescent lighting. Electric-eye
doors. Frozen food cases. Piped-in music. Eight-foot-wide aisles.
Open dairy cases designed to Mr. George's specifications. In-store
donut and flower shops. People traveled from miles to shop there,
and Publix prospered.
But again, larger forces restricted his plans: the country was at
war. In 1945, with construction expansion constrained by wartime shortages,
Publix purchased a chain of 19 small All American grocery stores.
1950s:
By the end of the '40s, the small chain of stores Publix bought and
refurbished had fulfilled their mission by launching the Publix chain.
With peace came new prosperity. Now, at last, George Jenkins could
fulfill his dream to build a chain of stores as fine as that first
Publix Super Market.
Publix began closing its older stores and replacing them with modern
ones. In 1951, to help build and supply the stores, a 125,000-square-foot
warehouse and headquarters complex was completed in Lakeland. As the
chain grew, so did the Publix spirit, based on the extraordinary policies
and attitudes founded in the first store. Sales grew, too. In 1951,
the chain's 24 stores grossed more than $18 million. By 1955, gross
sales had increased to $49 million with earnings of $830,504. In 1956,
Publix recorded its first million-dollar profit year.
1960s:
The expansion begun in the '50s continued at full speed throughout
the '60s, with Publix spending $63.1 million on expansion from 1959
to 1969. In 1962, there were 85 stores. By 1969, there were 150. While
the first wave of building focused on central Florida, geographic
expansion dominated the '60s. Publix purchased seven new stores in
1959, mainly in the southeast coast area, to get a foothold in that
market.
By 1963, Publix had opened the Miami Division and constructed a 300,000-square-foot
distribution center to supply the growing number of stores there.
The first Publix Deli was also installed during this era.
George Jenkins's reputation was growing along with the business,
and he was elected president of the Super Market Institute in 1961.
Profits were likewise fabulous; a share of Publix stock, valued at
$2.50 in 1958, was worth $44 by 1969.
1970s:
In 1970, Publix achieved another high mark, recording nearly $500
million in sales - a figure that would double in four short years.
Three new stores opened in Jacksonville in the early '70s, laying
the foundation for a new division. A bakery plant and a produce distribution
center opened in 1973. Other construction milestones included various
distribution centers and storage and distribution facilities.
By 1978, Publix was grossing nearly $2 billion annually, with profits
of more than $32 million. Store expansion also continued, and 1979
was a record-breaking year, with 15 new openings. Publix was spending
nearly as much every year for expansion as it did during the entire
previous decade.
1980s:
Publix turned 50 in 1980 and celebrated by kicking off a decade of
technological innovation. In keeping with the company's penchant for
using technology to make shopping more pleasurable, Publix introduced
check-out scanning statewide.
More innovation came in 1982, with the launch of the Presto! ATM
network. In the mid-'80s, the Lakeland deli plant began production
and an Orlando store pioneered the first Publix pharmacy. Scores of
distribution centers and processing plants opened around the state,
and by the end of the '80s, Publix had 367 stores and 64,000 employees.
In 1989, total revenues were $5.4 billion.
This also was a decade of evolution, as Howard M. Jenkins assumed
the roles of CEO and Chairman of the Board.
1990s:
1991 saw a milestone in Publix history when the company crossed the
state line to open a store in Savannah, Ga. Our Atlanta Division soon
followed. The ensuing years were filled with accolades. In 1993, the
book, The 100 Best Companies To Work for in America, named Publix
in their top 10. Publix is consistently recognized as tops in the
grocery business for superior quality and customer service by an American
Customer Index survey.
In 1993, Publix opened its first store in South Carolina. The following
year, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women honored Publix
for progress in programs that support women. In 1995, Fortune magazine
ranked Publix the 29th most admired company nationwide and Publix
made Fortune's Famous 500 and Global 500 lists.
Business continued to boom, and in 1996, Publix begin doing business
in Alabama. Also in 1996, George Jenkins passed away. His spirit,
however, lives on in Publix associates.
2000s:
Publix debuted its first in-store Meal Solutions Center, "Apron's,"
designed to show customers how to prepare healthy and tasty meals.
Publix Pix, a series of gasoline-convenience stores, was also rolled
out.
Once again, Publix was selected as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies
to Work for in America, and named one of the Most Admired Companies.
Publix was ranked 132 on the Fortune 500 in 2000 and passed the $14
billion mark in sales. In 2001, Charlie Jenkins Jr. replaced his cousin
Howard as CEO of the company.
