Publix Was The First Grocery Store Ever To Offer This Comfort To Its Customers

Publix Supermarkets has built a reputation as a Southern grocery staple over the span of nearly 100 years. During that time, the chain has established a reputation with its legendary sandwiches and by valuing both its customers and employees. Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, Publix has also stood at the forefront of grocery store innovations in its history. One of the biggest was being among the first grocery stores to offer air conditioning, which makes sense given its Floridian roots. Additionally, Publix was one of the first to install automatic doors and is one of the few grocery chains to offer its customers a unique shopping experience through services like a registered dietitian and the ability to enjoy food and beverages while shopping. 

Publix founder, George Jenkins, opened the first Publix store in Winter Haven, Florida in the 1930s, and a second not long after. By the 1940s, Jenkins decided to close the locations, merging the best parts of each into a single supermarket, while adding in many uncommon innovations with his shoppers in mind. Certainly, other establishments like movie theaters and hotels had already started using air-conditioning units by the 1920s, but Jenkins' first full-sized Publix was the first grocery store to do so. Especially considering Florida's mostly hot and humid climate, this became very popular with its customers. Alongside relief from the swampy weather, this store was one of the first to include fluorescent lighting, providing a well-lit experience, in-store music, and automatic doors. 

Today, Publix still finds ways to offer its shoppers innovative and unique approaches through both technology and its store experience. For instance, Publix offers registered dietitians to help customers get the most out of their food. Since the chain's dietitians work both at the corporate level and in some stores, they might not be nearby, but their assistance is just an email away. More recently, Publix has made several moves to enhance the in-store shopping experience: The grocery chain has invested millions into collecting data and implementing artificial intelligence to suggest products and savings according to shoppers' past purchases. Recently, Publix rolled out Publix Pours, a line of in-store bars, across Central Florida. While it may still need a separate liquor store by law, this service offers beer, wine, smoothies, coffee, tea, and açaí bowls for customers while they do their shopping. 

Certainly, the grocery store's people-first focus is one of the leading factors of its success and can be seen on every level. It drives the chain's motivation to stay up-to-date with technology, providing its customers with the best experience possible, and even influences the company's decisions when it comes to the local communities. As part of Publix's sustainability efforts to reduce food waste, it donates unsold, still safely edible food to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. Ultimately, it's clear that there is much retailers can learn from Publix, and why it has become the iconic chain it is to this day.