First Publix Supermarket

Publix was created by George W. Jenkins in 1930 when he opened the first Publix food store. Than in 1940 he open the first every Publix supermarket (my Clio project). They were both opened in downtown Winter haven Florida. The difference between the food store and the supermarket was the supermarket had air conditioning, frozen food cases, and an open dairy area which were all new features within grocery stores. People traveled from far areas to shop at the supermarket. His approach to customer and his employees aided his success. This location holds history as Publix is currently in multiple states and this was the start to George Jenkins supermarkets. He had to walk away from his job in order to pursue opening up stores that became a success. This location is currently not a Publix but was the start to it all.

George W. Jenkins

George had no intention to be in the supermarket business but that's the road he ended up on and thrived in. Jenkin's father had a general store and Jenkins grew up with it, Jenkins went to college at Georgia Tech with no intentions of going into the grocery store business. While in college he heard about all the money being made in South Florida and it is now called the “great Florida land boom”. When visiting Florida with a friend he meet the Piggy Wiggly owner and was offered a job that he accepted and he learned all the way of the grocery industry. He was soon the manager of the store. In 1930 he quit his job to open the first Publix food store (not the supermarket) across the street from the Piggly Wiggly. Then soon after in 1940, he opened the first Publix supermarket (my Clio project) in Winter Haven Florida. After opening this supermarket his stores started opening in other towns like Lakeland Florida and continued to grow from there.

Backstory

Publix was formed by George W. Jenkins who moved to Winter Haven from Georgia in 1927 and worked at his local Piggly Wiggly. Mr. George came up with the idea of Publix after a chain of theatre’s he enjoyed, he quit his job and became working on his idea which would soon be a hit. He soon borrowed money to start his store in Winter Haven and he started with only five employees. This was during the great depression, so he started his company and succeed when times were hard for everyone but he made it work. His motto “where shopping is a pleasure” lured people to come and shop at his supermarket as everyone wants pleasure while shopping and showed how customers were going to be treated with respect. In 1935 he opened a second Publix across town and soon he later closed both stores to open up his dream Publix supermarket in 1940 in downtown Winter Haven Florida. Mr. George loved putting others first and treated his employees and customers like family which lead Publix year after year to be number 1 in customer satisfaction. In 1950, post great depression, he opened the chain of 19 Publix stores and they continued to strive every day. By 1979 there were 234 stores opened and 26000 employees working, which is a big jump from the 5 employees he had at the start.

Current status of Publix

Publix currently is one of the top largest supermarkets to date and is growing larger and larger. Publix has 1,334 stores across the southern states including, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The state of Florida currently has the most amount of stores in the state as that's where Publix all started. Publix still uses the motto "where shopping is a pleasure" and is top in customer service, for which they have won numerous awards across the years. Publix continues to open stores and soon hopes to expand to more states. Overall Publix is a very successful supermarket that all started in Winter Haven Florida.

1-        “Publix Super Markets Inc. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Publix Super Markets Inc..” Reference for Business, https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/77/Publix-Super-Markets-Inc.html#:~:text=1930%3A%20Publix%20is%20founded%20by,and%20headquarters%20in%20Lakeland%2C%20Florida.

2-        Lauredo, Malcolm. “A Brief History of Publix, Florida's Favorite Food Store.” Miami New Times, Miami New Times, 23 June 2021, https://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/publix-supermarkets-history-from-george-jenkins-to-lgbtq-controversies-11118845#:~:text=The%20first%20Publix%20supermarket%20opened,Haven%2C%20Florida%2C%20in%201940.&text=The%20store%20was%20nothing%20short,glass%20doors%20and%20air%20conditioning.

3- “History.” Publix Super Markets, https://corporate.publix.com/about-publix/culture/history#:~:text=On%20Sept.,a%20second%20location%20across%20town.

4- “Publix Supermarket: Part of Florida History since 1930.” Florida Back Roads Travel, https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/publix-supermarket.html.

5- Clarkson, Brett. “Publix Turns 90: A Photo History of the 5th-Largest Supermarket Chain in the Country.” Sun Sentinel, 22 Sept. 2020, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-publix-turns-90-photos-20200922-ei66opyyhnhb7o4pmqlmepwz5u-story.html.