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Retail Top 100 2012, No. 48: Publix

September 12, 2012

Publix Super Markets has offered exceptional customer service for more than 80 years, operating 1,000 loca-tions through one of the worst economic downturns in history without laying off a single employee. Publix is the country's largest employee-owned supermarket and the fourth-largest operator of traditional supermarkets overall, behind Kroger, Supervalu, and Safeway. George Jenkins — or Mr. George, as he is still known within the company — launched his service-oriented supermarket in 1930 and immediately embarked on an expansion effort that has yet to abate. Publix continues to grow at a time when many other businesses are stagnating. The retailer's latest growth efforts include a hybrid store that melds its GreenWise organic format with its more conventional stores. Publix's second-quarter 2011 net income rose 9.7 percent, to $382.4 million. Total sales increased 5.8 percent, to $6.6 billion, with same-store sales up 4.2 percent.

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