[UF_john]

When you are in Florida, many people rave about how great Publix is, but it's really not that great. They charge you almost 40% more than what you'll pay in most other states' major grocery stores. Their "Buy One Get Ones" are not really deals because they charge you more for the first product than you would pay in most places. I understand people like the presentation, they point you to the products, and for seniors the fact that they push the groceries out to the car and are programmed by management to say "It's my Pleasure," but it's not worth the extra 40% you pay for your grocery bill for most people. They charge you $4.00 for a cup of "fresh" soup that's been sitting in a pan most of the day. The Publix brand drinks have skyrocketed from 79 cents a couple years ago to $1.19. The grab and go subs that used to be $3.50 are mostly all bread are now all over $5. The sides in the deli are sitting stale, and other than the chicken, you see the same mac and cheese sitting there all day. They want you to spend $10 in the deli for one meal when you can easily go out to eat somewhere other than the grocery store deli. Their workers look exhausted and overwhelmed. In Florida, they rave about the Publix Store Subs, which are like Subway with better bread and they charge you $9 for a "Boars Head Meat" sub that you can make on your own at home very easily. Nobody cares about the Publix subs outside of Florida (it's like a Florida cult thing to say you ate a Grocery Store sub). Publix has not taken off in other states like it has in Florida for these very same reasons. Besides the extra customer service that benefits seniors, most other states see that the products are very overpriced. They raise all the prices for their stockholders. Publix thrives in Florida because it has a Monopoly in many markets. It buys the best locations and gobbles up the marketshare in many areas of Florida. They make a boatload of money off vacationers, especially in places like Orlando with higher prices. I don't blame them for being smart and aggressive businessmen, but they really try to force people into their Florida stores when they need to get 1 or 2 things quickly by cornering the market. We are starting to see Trader Joe's and Aldi's come into the state, and Walmart also is a very popular competitor.

[bmw335xi]

I agree, especially in 2019 when there are so many other grocery stores that focus on quality ingredients such as Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Sprouts, Earthfare, Lucky's Market, etc. Publix while it's not awful, is no different than Albertsons or Safeway. The only reason I ever go there (which isn't often) is out of convenience because there is one practically every mile.

[Arcenal813]

Eh... They’re huge in Atlanta. And pretty much everywhere they’ve expanded. Not sure why the rant. Don’t like them? Shop elsewhere. You have options.

Their prices are fine. I don’t find them to be any higher overall than non-bulk stores.

Publix excels at what it sets out to be: being a great, standard, no frills grocery store. It’s not competing against Aldi, nor is it competing against Whole Foods. It competes against Safeway, and IMO, is a substantially better store in general.

By the way, Walmart is not a Publix competitor.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I agree, especially in 2019 when there are so many other grocery stores that focus on quality ingredients such as Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Sprouts, Earthfare, Lucky's Market, etc. Publix while it's not awful, is no different than Albertsons or Safeway. The only reason I ever go there (which isn't often) is out of convenience because there is one practically every mile.

Wfm is totally overrated but I do like the prime discounts. Publix still wins on price for organics and most things compared to wf, and Walmart beats both when it comes to price, although quality of produce can be suspect at times.

I was very underwhelmed with luckys, esp in terms of price for what you get

[kyle19125]

The only thing that can/will change Publix is via direct market-share competition from another conventional grocer moving in from out of state. For awhile there were whispers of Kroger being that company but that has seemingly fizzled. The only other besides Kroger that could match Publix head to head is Wegmans which offers some hope of expansion in the future given they're opening in NC this year, where Publix has already begun to establish itself. If Wegmans can win that battle or match up evenly in NC, I would bet they would take a long/hard look at Florida for future expansion.

[Florida Paul]

Publix is a nostalgic Florida thing for most. If you were brought up in Florida , your youth was spent in Publix shopping with your Mom, getting the free cookie at the deli, watching them bag your groceries and asking if you wanted them to take it out to the car. Maybe it was your first job. I don't know why a grocery store brings up such fond memories of youth and growing up, but it does, and Publix does an awesome job at it. I love Publix, not for it being a company that sells food and such, but for the memories I have growing up with it. That's why people are so devoted to it, because its been apart of your life since you were born. Plus, there is nothing better than a PubSub.

[bale002]

Another Publix bashing thread?

Publix is conveniently located, well stocked (including organics), clean, expensive, but on some items competitive. There are alternatives in both directions, less expensive and more expensive, more or less well stocked.

What is the big controversy, except paid shrills masquerading as posters?

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

The only thing that can/will change Publix is via direct market-share competition from another conventional grocer moving in from out of state. For awhile there were whispers of Kroger being that company but that has seemingly fizzled. The only other besides Kroger that could match Publix head to head is Wegmans which offers some hope of expansion in the future given they're opening in NC this year, where Publix has already begun to establish itself. If Wegmans can win that battle or match up evenly in NC, I would bet they would take a long/hard look at Florida for future expansion.

Wegmans is very nice, but their prices make Publix look like a bargain in comparison

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

Wegmans is very nice, but their prices make Publix look like a bargain in comparison

Which is why I keep saying, I really don't see the issue with Publix prices. On occasion, some of their produce prices can be over the top (tomatoes, I'm looking at you!) but for the most part, they're fine, with the only stores around offering better prices being Walmart, Save-a-Lot and ALDI -- When it comes to those, you get what you pay for. ALDI being slightly ahead of Walmart and Save-a-Lot in terms of quality, but still leaving LOTS to be desired.

[Trip Mcnealy]

It's a grocery store that offers above average customer service. There's value in that.

In terms of healthy options from a grab and go standpoint- it's stuck in the 80's and probably always will be.