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Publix Super Markets, Inc. (commonly known as '''Publix''') is a in the United States. Top 100 Retailers: The Nation's Retail Power Players (PDF) , ''Stores'', July 2006. Publix's slogan is "Where Shopping is a Pleasure", which during the chain's seventy-fifth anniversary was changed to "It's Been Our Pleasure". Publix has operations in five states: Florida , Georgia , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Alabama . It employs over 143,000 people at its 907 Retail locations, corporate offices, eight grocery Distribution Centers , and nine Publix Brand manufacturing facilities which produce its Dairy , Deli , Bakery , and other food products. Publix Facts and Figures , Publix, Retrieved August 1, 2007 In addition, Publix owns "Crispers", a chain of restaurants in Florida specializing in salads; some Crispers locations are adjacent or built into the already existing deli department in select Publix Super Markets. Publix's main Competitors are Albertsons , Bruno's , Food Lion , Kroger , Piggly Wiggly , Sweetbay , Wal-Mart , and Winn-Dixie . HISTORY , circa 1940.]] George W. Jenkins opened the first Publix market in Winter Haven, Florida , in 1930. In 1934, his single store made $120,000 in sales. In 1935, he opened a second market, the Economy Food Store, in Winter Haven. Despite the Great Depression , his stores were financially successful. In 1940, Jenkins, affectionately called "Mr. George" by his employees, mortgaged an Orange grove to build Florida's first Supermarket . His "food palace" had Piped-in Music , Air Conditioning , cold cases for Frozen and Refrigerated items, in-store Donut and Flower Shops , and electric-eye automatic doors. The supermarket became very popular among shoppers, but World War II materials shortages prevented him from building more for a few years. In 1945, Jenkins purchased the 19-store All American chain of food stores and converted them into Publix Super Markets. The Jenkins Story , University of South Florida Office of Donor Relations & Foundation Scholarship Programs In 1951, Publix moved its headquarters to Lakeland, Florida, and built its first distribution warehouse there. At the same time, it began to close the old All American stores and replace them with new stores. In 1956, for the first time, Publix crossed $50 million in sales and $1 million in profit. In 1957, the donut shop in each store was expanded into a full-service bakery. By 1959, Publix was the dominant supermarket chain in central Florida, and began expansion to southeast Florida. In 1963, the company built a distribution center in Miami , and began providing deli services. In 1970, sales crossed $500 million; they reached $1 billion in 1974, the same year in which stores began to open in Jacksonville, Florida . In 1982, the '' Presto! '' ATM network was launched, and the company soon installed ATMs in every Publix Super Market. Sales crossed $5 billion in 1989. The first store outside of Florida opened in Savannah, Georgia , in 1991; and distribution and manufacturing facilities in Lawrenceville, Georgia , soon followed. Stores were soon opened in South Carolina (1993), Alabama (1996), and Tennessee (2002). , with typical architecture of early-21st-century stores.]] With the launch of PublixDirect on September 24 , 2001 , Publix attempted to enter the Online grocery business, in hopes of serving the southeastern United States. This occurred during the Dot-com Crash , alongside competitor Webvan 's well publicized fall from grace. Publix found that demand for online grocery shopping in the Miami testing area was not as great as the company had expected, and shut down PublixDirect on August 23 , 2003 . In early 2005, Publix renamed its checkout section from "Common Area" to "Customer Service". This marked a fresh new direction in the general view of the role of each individual associate to provide premier customer service as a first priority. This change coincided with the beginnings of a new color and design scheme of the store's interior signage, which replaced the aging coral, navy blue and sea green design with emerald green, tan and gray. Continuing as of January 2007, Publix is changing its uniforms to match this new design. Publix completed the implementation of its new Point Of Sale terminals (PRICE — Publix Retail Improved Checkout Experience) in 2006, replacing the previous generation of IBM 4690 terminals. The new system, Retalix Storeline, combines a Hewlett-Packard RP5000 terminal with a Touchscreen system and an Epson Thermal Printer . A separate LCD Screen for customers lists the last several items scanned, recipe ideas, and Publix advertising. Publix Super Markets Selects Epson Printers for Store-Wide System Rollout , Epson Press Corner, September 17, 2004. Publix Super Markets Selects HP for Point-of-sale, In-store Processing and Pharmacy Systems , HP Press Release, September 3, 2004. MARKET .]] Each store provides specific products and services in its Grocery , Deli , Bakery , Produce , Floral , Meat and Seafood departments. Some stores have Cafés , Sushi bars, Pharmacy departments, or adjoining Liquor Store s. In addition, Publix provides a comprehensive "special order" service. Irregularly stocked or rare items from almost all departments, even some products carried only by Publix's competitors, can be ordered through this service. This service includes some products that are normally only found at Health Food stores, including Organic Meat s, Fruit s, and Vegetable s; in addition to Vegetarian and Vegan products; Hypoallergenic foods; and other specialty food items. This service can be used at any Publix customer service counter. A recent addition to the stores is its "Aprons" cooking demonstrations. Customers are encouraged to sample easy-to-make, nutritious dishes prepared at in-store kiosks and take a recipe card home with them. All recipes are developed in house using easy to prepare or prepackaged ingredients, often available at the Aprons kiosk. The customer service counter also provides Check cashing (this service includes personal checks and, in some cases, payroll checks, but not third-party checks or large dollar-amount checks), Money Order s, Western Union services, Photo Processing , Rug Doctor rentals, and Lottery tickets. Some stores also provide Ticketmaster terminals. Pharmacy Publix's first in-store pharmacy was opened in 1986 in Altamonte Springs, Florida . In 1995, one-third of the stores had a pharmacy, a percentage now standing at 77%. Publix Pharmacies have ranked number one for customer satisfaction in supermarket pharmacies, for four years in a row by an independent research company. Publix pharmacy ranked No. 1 for customer satisfaction , ''Orlando Business Journal'', September 18, 2006. Publix Sabor On April 21, 2005, Publix opened its first Hispanic -themed supermarket, Publix Sabor, in the Puerto Rican majority neighborhood of Buenaventura Lakes just outside of Kissimmee, Florida . The 40,000-square-foot store, renovated from a pre-existing Publix Super Market, almost exclusively features Hispanic Ethnic products, and has a cafe in the deli/bakery area that serves Hispanic food. A second store was opened shortly after in Hialeah, Florida . Publix recently announced that they would be opening two more Sabor stores in the Miami area, one would be a remodeled store in the Flagler Park area and the location of the other is still under consideration. Publix Pix Publix also currently operates six Publix Pix Gasoline - Convenience Store s. Locations are limited during the trial basis of the concept. Also in the works is Publix Liquors, a stand-alone Liquor Store . The liquor sales will be in a separate entrance on the exterior of the building, as required by local laws. The company is modeling this after many other grocery chains. Currently, all Publix Pix and Publix Liquors locations are adjacent to a Publix Super Market. The Little Clinic In early 2006 Publix and The Little Clinic signed an exclusive agreement to open medical clinics within Publix stores. The first clinics were opened in the Atlanta, Miami, Orlando and Tampa markets in the first half of 2006. The Little Clinic health-care centers are staffed by nurse practitioners who can write prescriptions, provide diagnosis and treatment of common ailments and minor injuries, and offer wellness care like physicals, screenings, and vaccinations. Publix and The Little Clinic to Open Walk-in Medical Clinics , Publix, February 6, 2006. Current projects In July 2007 Publix opened a Carrabba's Italian Market at the University Walk Publix in Sarasota, Florida , in conjunction with Carrabba's Italian Grill . This miniaturized version of the restaurant prepares several Carrabba's recipes for Carry-out . Publix Tests Curbside Service , ''The Ledger'', July 10, 2007. Carrabba's Italian Market to Open in Sarasota Publix , Publix News Release, January 9, 2006. Publix GreenWise Markets is a concept the company is trying in response to the increase in the number and , Boca Raton , Vero Beach , Tampa , Naples , and Coral Springs . Publix Expands Pilot Programs , Publix News Release, May 17, 2007. In select markets, Publix is also conducting trials of other various specialties, including a fully staffed cologne and Perfume fragrance department, in conjunction with Camrose Trading. Publix picks up scent of competition , ''South Florida Business Journal'', February 24, 2006. Publix is also experimenting with a gourmet deli at its Lake Mary Collection store in Lake Mary, Florida . Publix to debut worldly culinary cuisine , ''Publix News Release'', April 2, 2007. Publix recently announced in August 2007 that it plans to offer 7 Antibiotics for free to its customers. The 7 prescription drugs include amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin (excluding ciprofloxacin XR), erythromycin (excluding Ery-Tab), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (or SMZ-TMP) and penicillin VK. Customers must have a prescription and are given up to a 14 day supply for free. Publix Pharmacies Launch Free Prescription Drug Program in All Operating Areas . "Publix News Release", August 6, 2007. AWARDS .]] Publix has won various local, regional, and national industry and Philanthropic awards, among them:
CONTROVERSY In 1997, a settlement was reached in a Class Action lawsuit concerning gender discrimination. Publix paid $81.5 million in damages to its female employees and made policy changes in its workplaces as a result. EOC, Publix settle gender discrimination suit , ''Jacksonville Business Journal'', January 27, 1997. In 2003, Publix supported a successful bill that prevents people from suing if their land is polluted by dry cleaning chemicals. Dry cleaning chemicals can penetrate floors and seep into groundwater. Publix had in the past lost a lawsuit filed by a nearby property owner whose property had been contaminated in this manner. Environmentalists grumble over bills , ''St. Petersburg Times'', May 4, 2003. On October 4, 2005, Publix sued won a similar lawsuit against Visa in 2004. In 2006, Bank Of America began a two-year phase-out of its banks in Publix Super Markets, leaving customers displeased due to the loss of its in-store convenience. Bank of America to Expand Branches in Greater Florida , Bank of America, March 16, 2006. LOCATIONS As of August 1, 2007, Publix has 907 supermarkets in the following states:
Distribution centers are located in:
Manufacturing facilities are located in:
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