Originally Posted By: HouseTiger
Publix started in the late 1940s in Lakeland, Florida. I worked through high school part time at one near us. They're first rate as far as customer satisfaction is concerned - if something ain't right, they'll make it right, even if it was your fault in the first place. As a kid working there part time our motto was "Publix, where shopping is a pleasure but working is a pain in the [censored]." But when you're 15, well, what can I say? They treated us well considering we were snotnosed kids in the early 1960s.
They came to Georgia about 20 yrs ago and they're all over metro Atlanta. Every one is clean, orderly, the employees are helpful, and they have a great selection of their own 'private label' goods that in a lot of cases are better than some name brands . . . well, because they're made by the name brand guys.
Usually each Public will have their own bakery, deli, butcher to cut meat to order, many have a pharmacy, and some even sell liquor (in Florida). If you're diabetic - skip the bakery, it's deadly.
In my specific location they go head-to-head with Kroger, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Sam's Club and Aldi, all within a 3 mile stretch.[/font]
Pretty much this. Thanks for the history! Knew they were from FL, just didn't know they went back that far.
I'm about 20 miles outside the perimeter, and like you say Publix stores are everywhere here. My nearest three Publix stores are all directly across the street from Kroger stores. I buy prepackaged brand name stuff and some various staples (flour, eggs) at Kroger since they're generally cheaper and I get fuel points, but Publix is always my choice for meats, most produce, deli and bakery. Pretty much anything they make in their store is guaranteed to be excellent.
Store employees are always much more helpful than Kroger, like today when I was looking for a certain kind of pear my dad likes. I asked the produce guy if they were sold out when I didn't see them in the usual spot, and he took me back into the stockroom to let me pick what I wanted from a pallet that had just been delivered. You're lucky to find anyone to ask for help at Kroger.