What Is Florida's Most Popular Grocery Store?

Ask anyone in Florida where they shop for groceries, and odds are good you'll hear the same name. With 1,418 stores across the country — nearly 900 of them in Florida — Publix is so ingrained in daily life that avoiding it would take a serious detour. The chain isn't always the cheapest option — Walmart and Winn-Dixie often undercut it on price — but Publix has carved out a loyal base among shoppers who are willing to pay a bit more for the experience.

Much of that loyalty comes from the way Publix presents itself: clean stores, dependable produce, and weekly buy-one-get-one deals that inspire something close to a ritual among its regulars. Families may split their lists, grabbing meat and produce at Publix while saving bulk buys for other chains, but the green script logo has become as much a fixture of the Florida landscape as palm trees or hurricanes.

The roots of that presence stretch back nearly a century. Publix grocery got its name from an unlikely source: a series of shuttered movie theaters that inspired founder George Jenkins when he opened the first store in Winter Haven in 1930. From a modest start, the chain expanded through the Depression years and beyond, positioning itself not just as another supermarket but as a uniquely Floridian institution.

Publix's dominance in Florida isn't just about numbers — it's about culture, ownership, and the way the chain has built everyday shopping into something people defend with pride. Publix is employee-owned, making it the largest company of its kind in the U.S. That structure has turned clerks and stockers into shareholders, with many longtime employees walking away as millionaires thanks to steady stock growth. Retail consultant David Livingston told Barron's that employee ownership raises the bar inside the stores: if a coworker slacks off, "that guy is taking money out of your pocket." The result is a reputation for tidy aisles, friendly service, and staff who feel invested.

The experience itself keeps shoppers coming back. Bread is baked fresh daily, flowers greet you at the entrance, and even the seafood counter offers sushi. Shoppers rave about the deli, where Publix fried chicken has become a cult favorite and the chain is beloved for its sub sandwiches, known simply as "Pub Subs." These aren't just menu items — they're part of Florida food culture, shorthand for the Publix brand itself.

All of that helps explain why Publix has a market value just under $60 billion, bigger than Target or Kroger, despite being regional. For Floridians, it's not merely a grocery store. It's where paychecks, pride, and dinner all share the same basket — and that makes it untouchable in its home state.