[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by boy3365

I don't believe that Publix is invincible though it may sound like I do from other posts on this thread .

They have already conceded some market share in Florida with the arrival of Lucky's and Sprouts to Florida. Aldi is also becoming more popular to people who don't want to play the couponing game anymore (where Publix is the favorite) yet still need to keep their expenses low. It's their Walmart alternative. Publix could be challenged by a new middle-market entry. The problem is that no one wants to come here and compete against their nearly 800 stores; certainly not a store with operations in the South already.

Publix competes against multiple stores outside of Florida including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Ingles, Kroger, Bi-Lo, Piggly Wiggly, Super Target, Walmart, Save-A-Lot, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Earth Fare and also dealt with popular Sprouts in Atlanta before they expanded into Florida. Contrary to what people say, Publix is not inexperienced against competition. I think it's interesting that they are moving north instead of west. They could do some serious market disruption in Mississippi and Louisiana, yet they are going north where the competition is more robust.

I for one wanted Kroger to buy out Winn-Dixie when it was rumored to be a possibility and do some massive capital investment, but it looks like they are just feeding money to Whole Foods-alternative store Lucky's Market instead (without owning them).

Winn-Dixie, Publix's direct supermarket competitor in Florida, has failed, closed stores, and is a mess. No one would want to acquire Winn-Dixie and Southeastern Grocers as a whole.

Publix is rolling out specialty organic/gourmet grocer GreenWise Market in Florida and South Carolina. There is speculation GreenWise Market may expand into Georgia. I could see GreenWise Market in North Carolina in the future if GreenWise Market's initial stores are successful.

Publix expanding into Mississippi and Louisiana is doable. It has a distribution center in McCalla, Alabama, to support additional stores and enter markets in Mississippi and western Tennessee.

Publix will need to find a way to penetrate grocery participants in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Supermarkets Food Lion, Giant (Landover, Maryland), Harris Teeter, Kroger, Safeway, Shoppers, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and Wegman's are present. Shoppers could be up for sale by SuperValu.

[Branal]

In the future, all stores will be Publix.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Winn-Dixie, Publix's direct supermarket competitor in Florida, has failed, closed stores, and is a mess. No one would want to acquire Winn-Dixie and Southeastern Grocers as a whole.

Publix is rolling out specialty organic/gourmet grocer GreenWise Market in Florida and South Carolina. There is speculation GreenWise Market may expand into Georgia. I could see GreenWise Market in North Carolina in the future if GreenWise Market's initial stores are successful.

Publix expanding into Mississippi and Louisiana is doable. It has a distribution center in McCalla, Alabama, to support additional stores and enter markets in Mississippi and western Tennessee.

Publix will need to find a way to penetrate grocery participants in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Supermarkets Food Lion, Giant (Landover, Maryland), Harris Teeter, Kroger, Safeway, Shoppers, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and Wegman's are present. Shoppers could be up for sale by SuperValu.

Why are there no "Greenwise" stores in Sarasota? This market is saturated with all of the smaller specialty organic stores - we have TWO Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Lucky's, Sprouts and Trader Joes. And Earth Fare is coming. Seems like Publix would want to compete on that score.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

As for H.E.B., aside from your muffins (I couldn't care less about store-bought muffins) all I see are massive bulk quantities. What makes the broccoli any more special than what other stores offer? The fact that it's sitting on an ice pyramid? Sorry but I just don't see it, even with the fancy pictures. Looks like a nice store, sure, but I'm missing something here.

I would say upon closer inspection, the prices. Publix is doing some pretty serious gouging thanks to the lack of competition. $3.99 a pound for Mushrooms is equal to what Publix charges for a small container that might equal a half pound and offer a "deal" at 2 for $5 sometimes. If you look close many of the other prices pictured are far less as well.

[newfloridian41]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I would say upon closer inspection, the prices. Publix is doing some pretty serious gouging thanks to the lack of competition. $3.99 a pound for Mushrooms is equal to what Publix charges for a small container that might equal a half pound and offer a "deal" at 2 for $5 sometimes. If you look close many of the other prices pictured are far less as well.

Well, I guess there is someone with a working brain in this thread! That's right. Lower prices than Publix, but 1,000 times better selection and quality. Someone said they don't see anything "special" about that? About H-E-B? I guess Floridians like being gouged and taken for fools!

[newfloridian41]

Originally Posted by boy3365

HEB and Central Market are fine stores. However, you're comparing Publix, a conventional grocery store to Central Market, which based on its description, looks like it is playing to the Whole Foods and Fresh Market crowds.

The valet parking is more of a trend in Florida city culture than Publix pulling at straws to get people into stores. Apparently, some Publix locations in ritzy Palm Beach County have had it for a few years already. It seems like everyone is offering valet parking now. Simon Malls is now charging for parking at its two outlet centers in Orlando in addition to valet parking. Everyday folk sit down restaurants offer valet parking here in the Orlando tourist district in addition to the higher end restaurants. There's even a megachurch here that offers valet parking to first time guests.

Kroger announced today that they are closing all of their stores in the Raleigh-Durham, NC market. (They will convert some of them to Harris-Teeter, a Publix-like store that started in NC but was bought by Kroger.) While business media will wrongly give Amazon/Whole Foods credit in the next few days despite the fact that Whole Foods only has a 1.7% national market share, Publix entered into that market about two years ago and Wegmans is on the way.

https://www.newsobserver.com/latest-...213090544.html

Publix may not be all things to all people, but they're doing something right.

If you have never been in an H-E-B or Central Market, then you are not qualified to opine about it.

H-E-B/Central Market ARE conventional grocery stores, not like Fresh Market or Whole Foods. They are the size of a Walmart Supercenter, with all the cheap stuff that Walmart carries, PLUS all the fancy stuff at Fresh Market, PLUS all the organics at Whole Foods. In other words, if you go to H-E-B, you never have to go anywhere else.

At H-E-B you can buy your gourmet pies made with butter and fresh fruit, not artificial junk (Whole Foods) and your one dollar Rubbermaid plastic storage (Walmart) and your painting supplies (Walmart) and your organic steaks (Whole Foods) and your Made-in-Spain almond butter (Fresh Market). They have everything low-end and everything high-end.

Try that at Publix or Greenwise!

[843904]

H-E-B's Central Market concept is a niche store, like Publix's Greenwise concept. One cannot compare niche retailers to regular retailers. They operate with different business models and target different sets of consumers. OP's complaint is they expect Publix to be niche like Central Market. I don't know where in FL the OP lives, but there are options popping up all over: Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Trader Joes, Lucky Market, Sprouts. There are alternatives out there. Publix is a standard grocer known for solid customer service and quality offerings.

OP may also find that as a n00b to FL, their argument may gain more traction if they'd tone down their condescending attitude. I too have been to Texas. Loved it there. If FL isn't for you, I-10 does run west.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I would say upon closer inspection, the prices. Publix is doing some pretty serious gouging thanks to the lack of competition. $3.99 a pound for Mushrooms is equal to what Publix charges for a small container that might equal a half pound and offer a "deal" at 2 for $5 sometimes. If you look close many of the other prices pictured are far less as well.

I buy most of my produce from smaller markets. The selection at large grocery stores doesn’t have lots of the items I need, and if they do, they are overpriced.

I agree that certain things are overpriced at Publix, but like you said, that’s due to the competition here. All stores here sell mushrooms at roughly the same price. It’s not so much a Publix problem, but rather a Florida problem. Produce here is expensive virtually everywhere.

[Arcenal813]

Funny how this thread is asking about stores in FLORIDA, but then got diverted to comparing niche stores in Texas with a generic chain store 2000 miles away.

Maybe I should compare urban Canadian markets to Publix. Why isn’t Publix more like The niche Jean-Talon Market in Montreal? It’s ridiculous. They need to change their model to compete!

[Arcenal813]

Also, I’ll add that when I want quality produce at a fair price, I just go to Freshfield Farms. There are two of them in Florida, with one being in Orlando. It has cheap, high quality meats and produce. It’s not a Publix competitor though, as it doesn’t fall into the generic chain store category, and neither does H-E-B.