Publix Super Markets is gearing up for a significant expansion this fall, including a notably larger store in its home state of Florida. The upcoming Publix location in Lakeland, Florida, is set to open on November 9th, and it’s a sizeable 55,000 square feet. In August, the company unveiled a similarly large store in Coral Springs, Florida. Historically, Publix stores have fallen within the 45,000 to 49,000 square feet range.
However, these larger stores are a response to plans to integrate GreenWise banner amenities into traditional Publix stores, following the closure of the GreenWise concept back in May. The expanded format is designed to accommodate various departments, including grocery, dairy, frozen foods, seafood, meat, fresh produce, as well as a full-service bakery, deli, and pharmacy. Customers can also look forward to additional features, such as a Pours area and dining options like burrito, pizza, and pasta bars, along with indoor and outdoor seating. Hannah Herring, Publix’s Media Relations Manager, explained that insights from the GreenWise concept were used in a Tampa, Florida Publix store, which was reopened earlier this year. The Tampa store, situated in the Gandy Shopping Center, boasts nearly 60,000 square feet and is a full ground-up replacement for the original market.
Publix’s expansion efforts have been substantial, with over 50 new stores opening since 2022. The company is increasingly establishing itself as a dominant traditional grocery operator in the Southeast, standing out as the largest employee-owned company with more than 250,000 employees. Beyond the Lakeland location, several other Publix store openings include:
Additionally, Publix is making strides in Kentucky, a new territory for the regional grocer, with plans for four locations. Publix operates approximately 1,300 supermarkets across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, Publix holds the No. 12 position on The Progressive Grocer’s 2023 list of the top food and consumables retailers in the country and has received recognition as one the Retailers of the Century by Progressive Grocer.