Publix Super Markets Inc. has come a long way since founder George Jenkins opened his first store in Winter Haven, Florida, in 1930. Although the grocery industry is known for thin margins and stiff competition, Publix now consistently ranks among the top 10 grocery chains in the U.S. and has more than 1,400 stores and 255,000 employees across the Southeast.

Publix also is the U.S. company with the most employee owners, according to the National Center for Employee Ownership. In fiscal year 2024, which ended Dec. 28, the company reported $59.7 billion in total sales, a 4.6% increase over the prior year, while comparable store sales increased 2.9%. C+CT contributing editor Beth Mattson-Teig talked with Publix vice president of real estate strategy and operations Bridgid O’Connor about the company’s real estate strategy and ongoing growth.

Can you share a bit about your recent and future growth plans?

We remain focused on expansion in our eight-state operating area. In 2024, we opened 43 stores. We plan to maintain momentum for 2025. Most of our growth is organic. We are grateful for our partnerships with landlords and developers where we believe that together we have the opportunity to grow.

Can you describe your typical store footprint, or do you have multiple prototypes?

We have seven prototypes for our store design/layout. Our standard store size is approximately 50,000 square feet. We also have a few recently opened 55,000-square-foot stores, including store No. 1808 in Tampa and store No. 1846 in Kentucky. Our larger-format prototype allows us to introduce additional venues/features for our customers, including a Pours section that serves local beer and wine on tap, coffee drinks, acai bowls and expanded deli offerings, such as burrito bowls, pizzas, Italian cuisine, ramen and sushi, just to name a few. Our talented, in-house design team can customize a prototype to adapt to unique situations, such as urban sites, as necessary.

Your footprint spans Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Where do you see opportunities for growth in the current market?

Fortunately, all throughout our footprint has growth potential. Among our recent store openings in the first quarter are locations in Louisville, [Kentucky]; Miami, Panama City, [Florida]; and Newberry, Florida.

Without giving away your trade secrets, what’s your overall real estate strategy or what are your key site selection criteria?

We always appreciate the opportunity to review potential sites in the market for development or redevelopment. Market dynamics vary, so we always encourage developers/landlords to run an opportunity past us before assuming it’s not the right fit. We strive to be in the most convenient locations to the communities and customers we serve. Over the past 95 years, we have learned from our experiences and developed standards for our store and shopping center design.

Are there any particular characteristics you look for in landlords and/or locations?

Communication is essential. We view the relationship as a long-term partnership. We strive to marry our long-term operation strategy with the landlord’s independent strategy at each location for mutual success.

What do you see as the biggest challenges to growth, and how is Publix working around those challenges?

Shopping centers, in one form or another, have existed throughout human history as a gathering place, a place to buy [and] sell goods. One challenge is to remain inviting and relevant. There are a few trends impacting the grocery sector from [evolving] customer profiles — i.e., individuals versus family members primarily responsible for grocery shopping — and e-commerce to demand for an elevated grocery experience.

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What are some of the key trends that are impacting the real estate strategy at Publix, and do you have any examples of how Publix is responding to those trends or perhaps trying to stay ahead of the curve?

Our philosophy remains to meet our customers where they are. From e-commerce to contactless-pay options to offering our customers a personalized shopping experience through our Club Publix app, we look to provide our customers with the best shopping experience possible.

Across the retail industry, there is a constant convergence with technology and real estate. How is Publix leveraging technology, and how do you expect technology to impact grocery stores now or in the future?

The Publix real estate team leverages technology to learn markets and vet sites. Technology also helps us stay connected when we are in the field. As we continue to grow, technology will help us streamline our processes for efficiencies. While we use technology for many facets of the operation, as it relates to real estate, there is no substitute for boots on the ground.