This Southern Grocery Chain Keeps Expanding in This New State
Known across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and both Carolinas for its sub sandwiches, BOGO deals, and hot deli options, a best-kept Southern secret grocery store has been working hard on letting its secret out. Publix has 1,297 stores now, but continued expansion has been on its mind—most recently, in the state of Kentucky.
The grocery chain just announced on its website it broke ground on its first store in The Bluegrass State on June 23, while at the same time revealing plans for a third location in the new state. This new location will be one of the grocery chain's northernmost locations (just under a Fredericksburg Va. store).
The first store in Louisville will open its doors at the end of 2023 and will feature a drive-thru pharmacy and adjacent Publix Liquor store, the first outside the state of Florida.
Another location will open in Louisville in 2024. The final Kentucky store will be in Lexington and is slated to open later that year. These two locations will also have a drive-thru pharmacy and Publix Liquor store.
"It's an exciting day for Publix Super Markets as we break ground in our eighth state," the company's CEO Todd Jones said about the expansion. "When our founder, George Jenkins, opened the first Publix store, he wanted to create a better grocery store—one that kept associates and customers top of mind. More than 90 years later, we've kept true to our values, including supporting the communities in which we live and work. We look forward to sharing the Publix difference with Kentuckians."
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Outside of its foray into its new state, the Southern grocer has stretched its footprint in its base states. In May, the chain opened new stores in Winder, Ga, Plantation, Fla., and Boca Raton, Fla. It's most recently launched two new additional stores in its home base of Florida, which includes stores in Venice and Yulee, which were completed in late May and early June, respectively.
Currently, however, Publix isn't the only regional chain looking to broaden its reach. Mid-Atlantic food retailer, Weis Market announced in early May it was spending $150 million on expanding its market.
