Publix Super Markets general discussion

[HARTride 2012]

Friday, February 20, 2009
Partnership with Publix boosts Joffrey’s market share
Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Larry Halstead Staff Writer

TAMPA — Capturing a spot on the shelves of Lakeland-based giant Publix Super Markets is a big win for any consumer product company in this economy. For Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co., it’s the result of 18 months of effort by Ted Abrams.

The first time in seven years that Publix decided to expand its coffee section freed up space for a new vendor, said Abrams, Joffrey’s president and CEO.

When Publix realigns its shelves, the competition is fierce for space. Among the most important criteria it uses to decide what goes and what stays is the quality of the product, the marketing effort behind the product and will the company be able to supply 1,000 stores, said Maria Brous, director of media and community relations for Publix.

Publix has different review periods for each product and category in the store and during review, sales records are studied to see what products are moving and which ones aren’t. After review, any shelf adjustments are made to enable new products.

Some vendors might lose space but not necessarily their entire presence.

When Publix decided to revamp its coffee section, it provided the opening Joffrey’s needed to grab some shelf space. Publix changed its whole-bean dispensers to smaller containers, offering the same number of choices in less space.

Now Joffrey’s has eight facings, or spaces, in the ground coffee section, offering six blends of its specialty coffees, including four flavored and two non-flavored choices. It created special colorful packaging for the Publix line, investing about $50,000 in the packaging revamp, Abrams said.
More distribution brewing

It’s not the first appearance in a major grocery chain for Joffrey’s. The company has been a fixture in Sweetbay Supermarket for two years with seven coffees plus one blend developed exclusively for the chain.

Sweetbay utilizes Portland, Maine-based Hannaford Brothers Co. for some of its management decisions, including product mixes, said Nicole LeBeau, spokeswoman in Sweetbay’s corporate office in Tampa. Hannaford and Sweetbay are subsidiaries of Brussels-based Delhaize Group (NYSE: DEG), an international food retail company.

Next for Joffrey’s in the grocery sector is to expand its selection of specialty teas, Abrams said. It’s all part of diversifying the business, something that is critical in down market periods, he said.

While the restaurant segment of the business is down, the office coffee segment is up, helping the company grow its revenue 4.8 percent to $11 million in 2008, a year that most businesses saw revenue declines. Business has nearly tripled since 2001, when Abrams took over the management. The company employs 105 at its headquarters in Tampa.

A tie-in with Aramark puts Joffrey’s coffee into some of the area’s largest offices. Last June, Aramark purchased Gold Cup Beverage Service, an office coffee distributor based in Tampa.

Joffrey’s also developed a private label coffee brand for Cheney Brothers, a food distributor headquartered in Riviera Beach.

INTO THE AISLES
Suppliers wishing to be considered by Publix can register online at http://purchasing.publix.com/ and follow a specific set of rules in order to be evaluated by Publix corporate office. Items that are specifically being requested by customers are given top priority.
Source: Publix Super Markets

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/02/23/story3.html?b=1235365200^1781207

[HARTride 2012]

Despite the modernization of grocery stores, Publix still has a handful of stores that have retained the original exterior design. One of these stores is on Nebraska Avenue just north of Downtown Tampa. The outside looks like an older, 50s/60s era store and even has the old signs and stuff. However, the interior seems like it was gutted out at some point because of the "warehouse style" look and 90s era elements (i.e.: cash register bays). The entire store space is quite small compared to a typical Publix, only nine aisles and six register bays. But all in all, all the departments are there, even a GreenWise section, though very small.

In fact, this is by far the smallest Publix I've been in thus far. The store in Brandon (Brandon Blvd) is somewhat larger, but still quite small. The more typical sized Publix stores I've been in include what I call "the South Tampa Triple": Gandy Blvd, Britton Plaza, and South Dale Mabry, all in Tampa. The largest store I've been in is the Broadway Promenade location in Sarasota.

[tampasteve]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

The more typical sized Publix stores I've been in include what I call "the South Tampa Triple": Gandy Blvd, Britton Plaza, and South Dale Mabry, all in Tampa. The largest store I've been in is the Broadway Promenade location in Sarasota.

Check out the one on the corner of Dale Mabry and Linebaugh in Old Carrollwood. It is actually a rather old store and is pretty small, although it has been renovated recently so the inside looks very nice. The largest Publix I have been in is the one on SR54 and Collier Parkway. That is a big store with all of the extras (florist, cooking classes, etc.).

Steve

[HARTride 2012]

I pass by there when I go to see my aunt and have never once noticed that store. I'd have to look harder next time.

[tampasteve]

It is across DM from the Long John Silver's. Same plaza as Tijuana Flats and Panda Express....I am not sure how long it has been there, but it is at least 20 years...it is the one we used to go to when I was younger.

Steve

[HARTride 2012]

Panda Express, I've seen that location before. Maybe I have seen the Publix and just don't remember. I know there is one right by Carrollwood Village as well.

Anyways, for those of you living in Orlando. I heard that Publix is going to convert a former Albertsons location on Dr. Phillips to a GreenWise Market. Has this conversion begun by any chance?

[HARTride 2012]

Publix same-store sales dip in fourth quarter

By Mark Albright, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Mar 02, 2009 07:08 PM

People have to eat, but even some usually prosperous food retailers had an off fourth quarter. Publix Super Markets Inc. gained market share, thanks partly to its purchase of Albertsons in the quarter ended Dec. 27. Overall sales inched up 2.6 percent to $5.9 billion in the first quarter since Publix took over 49 Albertsons stores. But sales were down 0.9 percent in stores open more than a year. Net income dropped 20 percent to $249-million. Publix stock, which is privately traded, was appraised at $16.10 a share Sunday, down from $17.90 in the earlier quarter. Publix chief executive Ed Crenshaw blamed the economic "downturn." For the full year of 2008, Publix's sales rose 4 percent to $23.9 billion while earnings slipped to $1.1 billion, down from $1.2 billion.

[Last modified: Mar 02, 2009 07:08 PM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/busines...icle980563.ece

And this brings me to my commentary. Though some grocers are indeed doing well, I see a huge problem for Publix. First off, their prices are simply too high in many cases for people to afford, especially their meats and seafood. Why would I even want to pay roughly $10.00 for a batch of shrimp? Or around $6 to $11 for pork (depending what I pork I get) at Publix, when I could get those items for much cheaper at Sweetbay or even Sam's Club. Even cookies tend to be more expensive at Publix; at Publix a pack of "name brand" cookies costs around $4.20. While at Sweetbay, those same cookies cost only around $3.60. See the difference right there? The ever-growing presence of WalMart could also shatter future hopes for Publix because again, Publix prices are too high. More and more people would rather save money and just do all their shopping at WalMart, because its basically a one-stop shop for everything they need. And with a WalMart still proposed for South Tampa, for example, this scenario alone could one day force Publix to retreat from some markets and maybe fail altogether. Remember, things are going to change big time once this recession blows through. Hopefully people will become more wise with thier money and avoid buying too many luxuries too fast. However, people are already thinking twice as to where they shop. Even for groceries and other necessities. In this recession, it seems that WalMart is still king....

My other reason why the economy could place additional pressure on Publix is because of their over saturation of the markets. With the recent purchase of 49 Albertsons stores, I'd like to think of Publix as an almost equivalent to Starbucks in terms of company growth. Starbucks was simply growing far too fast in such a short amount of time that its books could no longer keep up with number of locations it was operating. Some cafes, as many of you know, sat within blocks of each other. Let's, for example, take Westfield Brandon. They had one Starbucks location just across from New York & Co. for several years now. When the mall expanded in 2007, they added a second Starbucks. WTF?! Why have two Starbucks locations in the same mall?! I guess one location just wasn't enough for them huh? Well, this same scenario is seemingly playing out with Publix because you now have stores popping up just blocks away, or even right across the street in some cases, from an existing store! Even though this may bolster Publix's image now, it could very well prove to be disastrous later.

[cityscapes]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

Well, this same scenario is seemingly playing out with Publix because you now have stores popping up just blocks away, or even right across the street in some cases, from an existing store![/B]

In the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens there used to be four Starbucks. Now there are three. There is another one in the Barnes & Noble across the street and one in another shopping center a block away. I've noticed some Publix stores are too close to each other so they always seem empty.

Publix has gotten to be very expensive lately. I went to Whole Foods and bought my usual groceries there and it was cheaper than Publix, which came as a shock because Whole Foods is always so much more expensive. Publix may have too many stores but I don't think they have a big problem because they are a nice grocery store and most people shop there instead of other places.

[HARTride 2012]

I agree that Publix has much better quality than other grocers, but again, this recession could end up hurting Publix in the long-run. Especially thier oversaturation of the market here in Florida. In my area, we have three Publix stores and all of them do quite well actually. But I don't know about other areas.

[UrbanImpact]

Here in Broward County, there is practically only Publix. Windixie and Albertsons are slowly dieing. Publix's main competition now is BJs, Costco, and Whole Foods.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Publix has gotten ridiculously expensive lately, I rarely buy anything at a Publix. I'm not surprised that Publix has lost sales, they make pretty poor decisions now. Working at Publix I know firsthand the stupidity of the company. The company is very cheap now, even though they had good profits in the last quarter they are cheap as hell now. They are very stingy with hours even though they need the help. I'm glad I'm a temp in produce for a couple months because every time I look to the front of the store there are long lines because they are too cheap to schedule enough cashiers or baggers. They always call people in and those people are getting annoyed with it and saying no. At the same time there is no overtime even though it's needed so things don't get done, and the same with part time not being able to go over 35 hours a week now. They cut health benefits last year so if you don't have atleast 29 hours a week you lose them, that pissed off quite a few people.

The former Albertsons employees tell me how they used to have better equipment when working at their old store. Another thing is my store is always hot now that the weather is warmer since they are too cheap to A/C the store properly. Then add to the fact there are too many stores, and from what I understand part of the reason of opening so many stores was to promote more managers that were waiting in line. So you have a company that is cost cutting, unhappy employees, and high prices. That is what will be a downfall to this company, this isn't only something at my store, I've had to work at other locations and it's a similar story. Some of the Albertson conversions are doing terrible, because there are too many stores. The only appeal to Publix that I can see now is for wealthy people who want quality food, or older people who want to be helped, and then loyal customers. In a way I am seeing a positive effect from the high prices, I hear more and more of people going to produce stands so there is help for small business.

[WeatherChannel]

I only buy meats and fresh veggies at Publix...cans and other items at Wally world. But Publix's subs are the best though..

[floridian-will]

Publix has the BEST subs. Has anyone seen the brand new Publix's? They are building them all over Palm Beach County and they are really nice on the inside, very calm and clean, and the Bakery is incredible. Wish I worked there instead of crazy Super Wal-Mart.

[I-275westcoastfl]

No trust me you don't...

[cityscapes]

floridian-will - be happy you have a job!

The chicken tender subs they make are so delicious, and the new publix stores are very nice. I wish there was a nice new Publix in central West Palm Beach the Southern, CityPlace, and Palm Beach ones are crappy.

[HARTride 2012]

Publix a favorite target of MySpace, YouTube pranksters
Monday, March 23, 2009

By Michael Sasso | The Associated Press

TAMPA, Florida -- Managers at Publix supermarkets have new troublemakers to chase down besides the usual shoplifters: children running through the store in chicken suits.

Bored or rebellious, and with way too much time on their hands, young people are arming themselves with video and cell phone cameras to record their shenanigans at stores. They post the images on the video-sharing Web site YouTube or social networking sites such as MySpace.

Lakeland-based Publix seems to be a prankster favorite. So, too, are Wal-Mart, Kmart, McDonald's, Best Buy and, to a lesser extent, Tampa-based Sweetbay supermarkets.

A search of YouTube videos turned up:

--Thrill-seekers venturing into Publix stores wearing a chicken suit, gingerbread man suit or banana suit. The banana prankster breaks out in a mock cry upon spotting the bananas in produce.

-- Children using the Wal-Mart intercom system. After punching in a secret code, one floppy-haired youth can be seen serenading shoppers with Sir Mix-A-Lot's comedy-rap classic "Baby Got Back."

-- Fun with Best Buy's car stereos. In a video called "How to Get Kicked Out of Best Buy," a young man sporting a Mohawk and Dr. Martens-style boots slips a CD into a car stereo system at a Toronto-area Best Buy, cranks up the volume and with a female friend dances to the music.

Most of the videos appear harmless, reminiscent of lighter versions of morning radio show stunts or the MTV show "Jackass." However, one isn't: Teenage girls enter what appears to be a Publix and take videos of large-bottomed women. Once again, the theme song is "Baby Got Back."

Retailers aren't eager to talk about the trend.

A Publix spokeswoman was aware of the YouTube videos but suggested it is an industrywide issue and directed a reporter to the Florida Retail Federation. Wal-Mart did not respond to an interview request.

The National Retail Federation has never discussed store pranks with YouTube or any other video-sharing Web site, said Joseph LaRocca, the federation's vice president of loss prevention.

Individual retailers, though, have contacted the Web sites, usually when a video shows someone committing a crime such as shoplifting. Another cause for action is when something proprietary hits the Web, such as an employee training video, LaRocca said.

Pranks may seem harmless, but retailers worry they can be dangerous if, for example, a teen is shown going down an escalator improperly or store employees are taken away from more important duties to deal with stunts, LaRocca said.

In most cases, retailers may be turning a blind eye to the issue, said Paul Levinson, a professor of communication and media studies at New York's Fordham University. With the recession raging, retailers need every sale they can get and probably don't want to be labeled unfriendly to young people, Levinson said.

Levinson just finished a book, "New New Media," in which he mentions the 2008 Polk County teen beating case in which five girls struck an acquaintance, videotaped it and planned to post it on YouTube.

In some cases, YouTube has taken down such videos, Levinson said. YouTube did not respond to an e-mail interview request.

Levinson said he would oppose removing most pranks from YouTube, calling that "walking down that road" toward censorship. Quoting the axiom "all publicity is good publicity," he wondered whether some retailers benefit from pranksters.

People see a kid pull a stunt in Wal-Mart on YouTube and remember to pop by the store to buy something, he said.

Some pranks are more elaborate than others. In one Best Buy stunt, staged in 2006, a group called Improv Everywhere gathered 80 young people and had them dress in royal blue polo shirts and khaki pants - the outfit that Best Buy employees wear.

Then the group descended on a Best Buy store in New York and videotaped the confusion as customers moved from uniform to uniform seeking help.

Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere's founder, said he never heard from Best Buy about the stunt.

"We focus on doing things that are hilarious rather than things that humiliate someone else," Todd said in an e-mail.

"Usually our events are met with smiles and laughter, though occasionally a cranky store manager might call the police. Since we never break the law, there's not much stores can do besides ask us to leave."

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...ube+pranksters

[HARTride 2012]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

The largest store I've been in is the Broadway Promenade location in Sarasota.

Okay, I was wrong on that tidbit. The Broadway Promenade Publix is only a fraction larger than the Nebraska Ave store, and its layout pretty much mimics the Tampa location. I always thought it was larger, perhaps because from the west facade, it does look large, but if one looks at the store from the south, it really isn't what its meant to be.

[HARTride 2012]

I just took a gander at Publix's new online store locator, which has an enhanced map. Not only has Florida been oversaturated in Publix stores, Atlanta and Nashville seem to be quickly catching up in the number of Publix stores in those areas.

[HARTride 2012]

I found this interesting article about Publix...

LAKELAND, Fla.--Publix Super Markets here has picked a fight with Florida's struggling economy, and has the bruises to show for it.
The state's largest food retailer earlier this month revealed that net earnings in the third quarter bad plummeted nearly 19% compared with the same period a year ago, due mainly to aggressive price promotions that brought down gross profits by a full percentage point, to 26% of sales. Product-cost inflation leading to higher inventory charges also impacted results, Publix said.
The company saw also profits decline 3.5% during the preceding quarter.
"Our costs are continuing to rise while many customers are struggling to make ends meet," Ed Crenshaw, Publix's chief executive officer, said in a statement.
Observers contacted by SN last week considered the slowdown in profits at Publix to be the price of maintaining sales momentum in a market where the down economy--particularly the subprime mortgage crisis--has hit consumers especially hard. They also acknowledge sharper competition in Florida, where Winn-Dixie and Sweetbay have worked to repair their images and where discounters Wal-Mart and now Aldi are expanding, and in markets like Atlanta, where Publix is encountering a stronger promotional offering from Kroger.
"While Publix had a tough quarter on a per-store basis, in terms of dollar sales and operating income it was still more successful than Winn-Dixie" noted Burt P. Flickinger III, managing partner with Strategic Resource Group, New York
As reported previously in SN, Publix was among several chains operating in Florida to take a more aggressive stand on prices over the summer as the economic picture darkened. The chain in August began a program called Publix Essentials, which offered extended discounts--estimated to be as much as 20%--on selected everyday items in addition to Publix's weekly promotions. The program as of last week offered seven items, including store-brand milk, eggs and chicken; heads of lettuce; canned Green Giant vegetables; and Tide detergent.
Publix also made a bold strategic move by spending $500 million for 49 Albert-sons stores in Florida. Those locations are gradually being reopened under the Publix banner now.
"When you're facing a down market you can do one of two things: You can duck down, put your head in the sand and ride it out, or you can be aggressive and face it head-on, and that's what they've chosen to do," Neil Stern, senior partner at McMillan Doolittle, Chicago, told SN.
Stern said it was telling of the seriousness of the challenges in Florida that Publix--which as a privately held company is generally under less press tire than publicly-traded counterparts--chose to take an aggressive stance.
"Publix buying Albertsons theoretically should lessen the competition," Stern noted, "but there's no question that the people who are still competing in the market have gotten better. And Wal-Mart seems to have gotten its act together."
Flickinger said he believes the investments in pricing and in greater market share through the acquisition of the Albertsons stores will ultimately help Publix weaken its rivals in the conventional field and strengthen itself to stand tall against Wal-Mart once the economy improves.
"Publix is Wal-Mart's best-capitalized competitor, so it's investing in its base with the idea of shifting more sales from less capitalized, less capable competitors," Flickinger said. "As a result, Publix is taking a little short-term pain, but they will reap greater long-term gains.
"The company will still face tough economic times in 2009, but I think Publix will come out stronger and better than some competitors who can't afford to make the same investments in these tough times."
Publix, Flickinger added, may be seeing more trouble outside of Florida. In Atlanta, he said, the retailer is finding a difficult competitor in Kroger, which he said runs stronger ads and has a better private-label program.

SOURCE:
Author: Jon Springer
Publication: Supermarket News v. 56 no. 46 (November 17 2008) p. 8

So despite the current economic climate, Publix could very well top out even stronger. I still think they face a significant challenge against not only WalMart, but also Aldi, which continues to grow. North of Florida, Kroger still remains strong and Food Lion (Delhaize) continues to do relatively well.

In South Tampa, I'm especially worried about the Sweetbay (Delhaize) store in the area, as a WalMart is still slated to be built right across the street. If they force Sweetbay to retreat from South Tampa, it could open the doors for Publix to take over the spot, as well as perhaps entice Aldi to step into the space nearby that was once occupied by Winn Dixie. (See this thread for further details, insight: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=810002)

[HARTride 2012]

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 2:57pm EDT | Modified: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 2:00am
Publix No. 3 in grocery chain survey
Tampa Bay Business Journal

Publix Supermarkets Inc. ranked third on Consumer Reports’ survey of the best national and regional grocery store chains.

The No. 1 spot in the survey went to Wegmans and Trader Joe’s took the second spot — chains that do not have locations in Central Florida.

Jacksonville-based Winn Dixie Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: WINN) ranked 55th out of 59 chains studied.

Nearly 32,600 respondents were asked about their grocery store experiences during more than 48,800 grocery store visits in the past year.

The top chains earned highest marks for their meat and produce sections as well as their helpful and friendly staff and quick checkout.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) might have had the highest percentage of survey respondents at 14 percent, but it ranked near the bottom of the list at No. 56 because of poor service and perishables, a lack of open checkout lanes, congested aisles and out-of stock advertised specials.

Winn-Dixie ranked just above Wal-Mart at No. 55. The rest of the bottom five included Shaw’s at No. 57, A&P at No. 58 and Waldbaum’s at No. 59.

Still, the survey showed that one-third of respondents switched grocery stores in search of lower prices. Some of the trends Consumer Reports found in the chains were more visible value brands, expanded bonus-card programs, Web-site specials, longer sales, discount drugs and more coupons.

The complete list of all 59 major national and regional grocery store chains will be available in Consumer Reports May issue. Consumer Reports last conducted a grocery store chain survey in 2005.

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tamp...6/daily24.html