Publix Super Markets general discussion

[HARTride 2012]

Another image I found on the web via Google.


Clearly this is an older Publix store with the old blue/green/coral livery. The aisle signage is also much older and I do believe is the same signage that the Gandy Blvd Publix used in their store aisles prior to being renovated in the early 2000s.

image hosted on flickr

Now for this really ancient store, it was shuttered and replaced a couple years ago. It was up in Tallahassee and reminds me of the older store on US 19/Sunset Point near Clearwater.


This is the Publix store in Treasure Island, opened just last year. The layout and appeance of this store is very similar to newer neighborhood stores such as Broadway Promeade in Sarasota.


And the Britton Plaza store, old Albertsons.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Publix will be decreasing their pay raise amounts so if you get a .$25 raise it will be a $.15 raise soon. Also when you are first hired you get a raise every 3 months I think twice, now it's just every 6 months. This is according to a manager at the benefits meeting held recently. Add this to the fact Publix already pays lower than most of its competitors and they are beginning to cut the benefits they are known for and it seems like the downhill trend is picking up steam. My thought is they are cost cutting to make it look like they are making more money than they really are, since the Albertsons buy-out made Publix lose money.

[HARTride 2012]

Well that's just plain goodie old crap! I wanted to apply at Publix because they had good benefits. Now they want to slash their benefits? Well, I wish them good luck with that. I think there will be a ton of employees wanting to quit during the next several months. The turnover will clearly shoot up after a while, just like many Target stores.

You know, this and other nonsense corporate descisions will likely cause Publix to go bankrupt in thirty years. How much do you really want to bet on that? This is almost the same scenario that Albertsons went through during their peak of expansion and after the death of Joe Albertson. Corporate management became way too greedy and started eating up store after store, slashing pay and benefits, and making their books look fatter than a Big Mac. In reality though, store associates and managers virtually had no voice in the company and were forced to conform to whatever corporate said. This was espeically evident when Albertsons acquired Jewel and Lucky stores in the late 90s, the very same transaction that caused Albertsons to free-fall from grace. Instead of keeping these brands intact and improving them, they merely eliminated them and converted all the stores into blandish Albertsons stores with the same crappy environment. Plus, like I mentioned earlier on, Albertsons lets a lot of their stores go to the dogs, more so than Publix and even WalMart. Should you ever go into, lets say the Gulf-to-Bay store and try to use the restrooms, you'll clearly see what I mean.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

Well that's just plain goodie old crap! I wanted to apply at Publix because they had good benefits. Now they want to slash their benefits? Well, I wish them good luck with that. I think there will be a ton of employees wanting to quit during the next several months. The turnover will clearly shoot up after a while, just like many Target stores.

You know, this and other nonsense corporate descisions will likely cause Publix to go bankrupt in thirty years. How much do you really want to bet on that? This is almost the same scenario that Albertsons went through during their peak of expansion and after the death of Joe Albertson. Corporate management became way too greedy and started eating up store after store, slashing pay and benefits, and making their books look fatter than a Big Mac. In reality though, store associates and managers virtually had no voice in the company and were forced to conform to whatever corporate said. This was espeically evident when Albertsons acquired Jewel and Lucky stores in the late 90s, the very same transaction that caused Albertsons to free-fall from grace. Instead of keeping these brands intact and improving them, they merely eliminated them and converted all the stores into blandish Albertsons stores with the same crappy environment. Plus, like I mentioned earlier on, Albertsons lets a lot of their stores go to the dogs, more so than Publix and even WalMart. Should you ever go into, lets say the Gulf-to-Bay store and try to use the restrooms, you'll clearly see what I mean.

I agree and think the same thing, all I can do is keep looking for another job. You will also notice if you haven't already the lines being longer at Publix because the wonderful corporate gives less hours to work with. You shouldn't apply at Publix especially if it's part time because you will get treated like crap, roller coaster hours, and getting full time is next to impossible.

[HARTride 2012]

I agree with that. It seems that no one has enough hours these days to sufficiently get the front lanes moving. Its not just Publix though, its practically all the retail establishments.

[HARTride 2012]

The Shoppes at Fairhope Village Publix

Taking it Publix; new store now open

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — It’s been more than a week since the Publix Super Market, located at U.S. 98 and Parker Road, held its grand opening last Wednesday.

“This new Publix has been very well-received by the community in its first week,” said Dwaine Stevens, Publix area media and communication relations manager. “We are very pleased with everything so far.”

According to Stevens, the reception in Fairhope has been much better than expected.

“We had people lining up around the building the first day it opened,” Stevens said. “It is interesting how jubilant people have been about it; there is a lot of excitement.”

Among those attending the opening ceremony were Scott Brubaker, vice president, Publix Jacksonville division; Jeffrey Pape, vice president for investments at Regency Centers; Carl Baker, project manager; Raymond Herndon, Regency Centers investments manager; and Debbie Iereubino, store manager.

Baldwin County currently has two Publix grocery stores, in Orange Beach and Fairhope. There are plans to open a third one in Daphne in 2010.

Dorothy and Sam Marshall moved to Fairhope from Atlanta last October. They said that while in Atlanta, they lived between two Publix grocery stores and went shopping there often, and they have already been at the new one in Fairhope multiple times.

“Every Publix we have been to is good,” Dorothy said. “They have a great deli section.”

Sam added, “Publix is a very upscale supermarket. We are very happy it is now available in Fairhope.”

According to Stevens, the new store is fully staffed with more than 100 associates. He says that he is very optimistic about the store’s future.

“We knew Fairhope was a good city to open a Publix, and they have not disappointed us,” Stevens said. “We hope it will have a good impact on the community.”

http://www.baldwincountynow.com/arti...1314580138.txt

===========================================

Westchester Publix Sabor

Publix opens Latin-themed store in Westchester

BY SUE ARROWSMITH
Special to The Miami Herald
Croquetas, sweet ham and Sangria were on the menu at the new Publix Sabor in Westchester.

Employees walked around with trays of these Latin favorites, passing them out to shoppers at the store, which opened over the weekend with its new look.

Located at Coral Way and Southwest 87th Avenue, the store, a renovated version of the 1960 original, is in the heart of Hispanic Miami.

Signs and employees are bilingual. Aisles are filled with Latin favorites, from tostones and fried plantain chips to chicharrones and pork sandwiches. A juice bar serves 15 different types of juices, including mango, guanabana, watermelon, orange and carrot.

Nick Marti, a Westchester resident, was stocking up on croquetas, guava, cheese, and meat pastelitos. He first noticed the new sign on his way to work.

''The little Publix sign was not noticeable, but Sabor, now that stands out,'' he said.

The store is part of Publix's move to tap into the growing Hispanic market in Florida. Since opening its first Sabor store in 2005, the Lakeland-based food retailer now has four in the state -- in Kissimmee in Central Florida and in Hialeah, West Miami and Westchester in South Florida.

Store Manager Onay Pedraza, dressed in a black guayabera, said the July 2 opening day went better than expected with about 6,000 customers visiting the store.

Maria Guijarro walked up to Pedraza with a special request -- a strawberry/mango yogurt blend she's accustomed to buying at a nearby Sedano's supermarket. Pedraza jots down the product name and Guijarro's contact information to place an order from the distributor.

It could take two or three weeks, he said, but once there is a request for a product it ``opens up for us to carry it.''

The Publix Sabor stores could mean competition for bodegas and Hispanic supermarkets in the area.

''It might have an impact. We are observing and watching what happens,'' said Romelio Valdes, corporate secretary for Sedano's. ``We are not worried, though. We have been doing this for half a century. There has been competition in the past and we've had to adapt. We think it's a really great idea on their part, but we can do it better.''

Listening to the public's demand is the main way Publix builds its inventory, especially for the Sabor stores, said Kimberly Jaeger, media and community relations manager for Publix.

``We monitor demographics and changes in the communities -- other factors include cost of real estate. We do customer voice surveys, but mostly we learn what the needs are from people talking with managers.''


http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miam...y/1137147.html

[HARTride 2012]

Publix adds movie kiosks to its stores

By Etan Horowitz SENTINEL STAFF WRITER

July 28, 2009


Looking to pick up the latest Hollywood blockbuster with a ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken? Then look no further than your local Publix.

Last week, employees of Georgia-based NCR Corp. installed blue "Blockbuster Express" DVD-rental kiosks in Central Florida Publix stores that allow shoppers to take home DVDs for $1 a night without having to sign up for a membership.

Each machine can hold about 950 movies, and customers can rent up to three movies at a time, said Michael Cecchini, an account manager for NCR who's responsible for the Publix kiosks. Blockbuster licenses its name to NCR.

"Where else can you get six hours of entertainment for $3?" Cecchini said. "You come in here, get some dinner and you get a movie for a buck."

So far the machines have been installed in Publix stores in Orange and Seminole counties, and they'll be going into locations in Volusia County up through South Carolina starting this week, he said.

The machines have been around for several years, but the Blockbuster branding is new, Cecchini said. Once called "The New Release," there are about 2,000 of them nationwide with plans to have a total of about 10,000 by the end of the year. Nationwide, they're in about 425 Publix stores, with plans for another 150 locations, he said.

Blockbuster's entrance into the DVD-rental-kiosk market is aimed at competing with the redbox DVD rental kiosks that have appeared in Albertsons, McDonald's, 7-Eleven, Walmart and other locations since 2002. There are redbox kiosks at more than 17,000 locations nationwide, said the company, which is owned by Coinstar.

The popularity of movie-rental kiosks come as technology companies continue introducing products that let consumers instantly download movies to their TVs, computers or phones.

Cecchini said that despite more advanced technology, the down economy and the convenience of being able to rent and return DVDs at places people visit on a regular basis have a lot to do with the popularity of movie-rental kiosks.

Etan Horowitz can be reached at ehorowitz@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5447. To read his technology blog, visit OrlandoSentinel.com/techblog.

Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...,7457284.story

This is definitely good news. I have already seen Blockbuster Express kiosks at several Publix stores in Tampa, including the Gandy Blvd store, which happens to be right across the street from a standalone Blockbuster store that had been in operation for years. Of course, many of the stores that Publix purchased from Albertsons still have the MovieCube kiosks.

[HARTride 2012]

Publix Buys 119 Acres

Published: Monday, July 27, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 12:15 a.m.

Publix Supermarkets Inc. recently purchased 119 acres of industrial land near the Orlando International Airport for a 970,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center, which would make it one of the largest distribution facilities for the Lakeland-based supermarket chain. Spokeswoman Maria Brous said Monday that, because of the current economy, Publix has no definite date for building the warehouse. "There's not an immediate need for warehouse space," she said. The company purchased the property for $13.5 million. Publix has more than 139,000 total employees and operates 1,009 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, including more than 20 in Polk County. The company has roughly 9,300 local employees, making it the county's largest employer.

http://www.theledger.com/article/200...Buys-119-Acres

[Jan280]

Interesting fact: Boca Raton publix on Camino real street even has vallet parking and I think the only one in Florida.

[HARTride 2012]

Valet parking? I wonder how that came to be? The place looks real fancy too.

[tampasteve]

Valet parking at a supermarket?? That is ridiculous. I hate to pay valet parking unless it is at a fancy hotel or restaurant. Having valet at a place that should not just gets my goat every time. It really makes me think twice about a restaurant. If my average bill at a given restaurant is under $50 they have not business making me use valet. If it is optional then OK, but to force you to use it is out of the question. A great example is The Lime on Howard in Tampa. Valet parking for a lot that is RIGHT beside the restaurant. I had to pay the guy to "run" the - literally - 25 feet to my car.

Steve

[Hia-leah JDM]

Is that something to be happy about?

[Jan280]

Well it is really odd but hey!It's Boca Raton, a really really fancy, luxurious, elegnant place especially in the city.The publix is in the heart of downtown and the architechure was made pink with the meditteranean style to adopt famous Addison Mizner's dream of architechure for the city.It is called Mercado Real Publix and it is really nice, I have been there and if I go there again, I'll get another pic. Also the second greenwise Publix was built here near the Boca mall.I'll get photos of that too sometime.Here is another photo of the "pink" publix.

[HARTride 2012]

I've got photos of the third GreenWise Market in Tampa....

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...4&postcount=99

[HARTride 2012]

Publix posts profit but established stores see slight slowdown

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By RICHARD MULLINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 3, 2009

TAMPA - The economy may be hurting some stores. Less so Publix lately.

The massive grocery chain with stores across Florida said sales and profits were up in its most recent quarter, though some established stores saw some slowdown.

Sales for the quarter were $6 billion, up 2.7 percent from the same quarter last year, while comparable-store sales for the second quarter of 2009 decreased 2.6 percent. Net earnings for the second quarter of 2009 were $300.8 million, up 1.7 percent from the same quarter last year.

Stock in Publix does not trade publicly. Rather, the Lakeland-bsed company releases some financial figures as part of employee stock-ownership programs. The company stock price was set at $16.05 per share, up from $15.55 per share.

"Although the economy continues to be weak, I'm pleased with the improvement in our operating results and stock price," said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw.

Currently, Publix has 1,008 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.


Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug...s-see-slight-/

[HARTride 2012]

Waterfront Publix reaches out to boaters
Saturday, August 8, 2009

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A local Publix is taking an extra step to accommodate boaters.

The waterfront store has added a four-slip boat dock. It's on Treasure Island, right off Boca Ciega Bay.

"Here you can just pull up to the dock, you hit the bakery aisle, you hit the deli, soda, water, load the boat up and you're off and going -- nice, quick and easy," said boater Lance Ellis who lives near the Publix.

It's the kind of shopping trip where Ellis' twins, Levi and Lucas, are happy to accompany mom and dad.

"It's more exciting than going on a regular car," Levi said. "I mean you get to go on the waves and feel the experience."

Lucas has a more practical reason to enjoy the unique trip to the store.

"When you get back in the boat, it's not as hot as when you get back in the car," Lucas said.

Built on two levels, it's an unusual Publix even for shoppers that arrive in more traditional transportation.

The store promises to have everything a boater will need, but there's no live bait for the fish.

The four-slip dock opened for customers a couple of months ago.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...out+to+boaters

[Jimmy McShane]

..

[HARTride 2012]

There is not any of the old art-deco style Publix stores that I know of in the Tampa area. The Britton Plaza location in South Tampa originally had the same facade, which I find pretty neat. Too bad Albertsons ruined it during the 1980s, when they moved in.

In fact, this particular location was rebranded four times. First, it started out as a Publix when the plaza opened in 1956, then during the 60s/70s it was a Food Pantry (whatever store that was), then it was rebranded briefly as Publix, then in the late 1980s, they left again (perhaps some consolodation?) and Albertsons moved in. Now since Albertsons is/has been on the decline, Publix bought out 49 of their stores, including......Britton Plaza, so they're now back to being a Publix. That's 3 times Publix has occupied Britton Plaza, and four different rebrandings...

[HARTride 2012]

Publix applies to build larger store in Tampa Palms
By Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, September 11, 2009

TAMPA PALMS

Publix applies to build larger store

TAMPA PALMS — Publix shoppers may soon find themselves navigating a larger store.

According to officials with the city of Tampa's Land Development Coordination department, Publix officials want to tear down the existing building and build a larger one in its place.

Publix representatives have applied for permission to add to the 46,791-square-foot space at 16041 Tampa Palms Blvd. W by taking over what was once a neighboring coffee shop and hair salon. That would make the grocery store 54,817 square feet, said Abbye Feeley, planning and development coordinator for the city of Tampa.

Feeley said Publix approached her department in early August and had some tree and landscaping issues that needed to be addressed. Also, the city wanted to ensure that adjacent wetlands would not be affected.

The application is being reviewed, Feeley said. She did not know when a decision would be made.

Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at (813)909-4613 or nguyen@sptimes.com.



[Last modified: Sep 10, 2009 04:30 AM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/busines...-palms/1034815

[HARTride 2012]

Blockbuster Express Kiosks Go Publix

By : Erik Gruenwedel | Posted: 16 Sep 2009
egruenwedel@questex.com

Blockbuster Inc.’s nascent Express $1-per-day movie rental kiosks are going into Publix Super Markets, the largest employee-owned grocery chain (with about 1,000 stores) throughout the Southeast.

Kiosk manufacturer NCR Corp., which is also a financial partner with Dallas-based Blockbuster in the planned rollout of 10,000 branded kiosks through 2010, said it would complete installation of the Express kiosks in most Florida-area Publix stores by Nov. 1.

Duluth, Ga.-based NCR, which also manufacturers rental kiosks for e-Play Inc., and owns The New Release and MovieCube brands, has begun Blockbuster Express installations in select Publix stores in other major markets, including Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Savannah, Ga.; Greenville, S.C.; and Charleston, S.C.

Indeed, NCR is converting about 300 TNR and MovieCube kiosks to Express units.

Blockbuster, which just announced that it plans to shutter about 1,000 company-owned stores in the next two years, has said it would focus on smaller footprint store locations in urban areas, in addition to kiosks, by-mail and digital distribution.

Maria Brous, director of media and community relations for Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix, said the chain agreed to the kiosks when feedback received from customers indicated a strong interest in a wide selection of movies, ease of the transaction and the time-saving aspect of one-stop shopping.

“DVD movie rentals at Publix are just another way we meet the changing needs of our customers,” Brous said.

NCR kiosks hold about 800 movies. The company expects to invest as much as $60 million to build out its DVD-rental kiosk operations this year and to deploy more than 2,500 kiosks for a total of 10,000 kiosks by mid-year 2010.

Customers interested in finding the nearest Blockbuster Express can visit www.blockbusterexpress.com for a kiosk locator.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blo...o-publix-17058