The Absolute Best Day To Shop At Publix

For anyone who's spent time in the Southeastern United States, Publix is likely within your grocery vocabulary. This makes perfect sense as the chain is a southern staple due to its focus on excellent customer service and guarantee to never disappoint— Publix's sandwiches aren't too shabby either. Naturally, this much-warranted fame comes with some disadvantages for its shoppers, namely, being busy. While Wednesday seems to be the consensus, the best day to avoid crowds is a bit of a loaded question, especially when it's Publix, specifically. This is due to a few factors, such as its weekly ad changeovers and shipment deliveries play into the answer.

Wednesday may be the best day to shop successfully at other grocers like Aldi, but this strategy may be counter-productive when applied to Publix. In anticipation of the changeover crowd wanting first dibs on the new sales, many grocers receive a bulk shipment the night before to stock up. This might make it sound like the first day of the new sales week is the best day to hit any store up, but the following day would be the best choice when it comes to Publix — as Wednesday is the start of its new sales week, that means Thursday is the time to strike those aisles. Waiting until the day after the new sales week begins allows the store to restock and the initial crowds to cool down, granting an easier shopping experience. It's also highly unlikely that sale items will completely sell out on the first day. 

Also at play for the best Publix shopping experience is the time of day and what you're looking for. While Thursday would avoid the new sale crowd, grocery store rush hours could cancel out your efforts. Similar to its commuting counterpart, the aisles of grocery stores are packed between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. with patrons trying to squeeze in their week's groceries after work. If possible, hitting up Publix in the morning would go far in avoiding this. Additionally, hitting up the grocery store first thing in the morning could reward you with a better selection of dairy, meat, seafood, and produce. The same goes for holidays and event days, as bigger occasions like the Super Bowl can influence hungry crowds hunting for ways to upgrade their snacks.

Another major factor at play is the store, itself. Speaking with Publix's customer service line, the best day to maximize your shopping experience depends on the specific store and its shipment needs. While Thursday would be the best advice here, it's important to double-check with the local store, as its needs could be different from another location's. The best answer here would be to check with the department manager overseeing what you're looking for. They'll know the ins and outs to best advise you on when to stop by for the best selection of what they offer.