Special Report: Publix

to our associates’ dedication and hard work.”

Publix in 2022 also celebrated its third year on People’s Companies that Care list, ranked most recently at No. 28. In compiling the list, People partnered with Great Place to Work to analyze surveys and data from more than 1 million employees on their experiences of how their workplaces have made a difference in their lives and communities. Rankings also reflect Great Place to Work’s assessment of the generosity of each organization’s benefits and its philanthropic and community support, with a particular focus on activities that occurred in the last year.

Building on Jenkins’ advocacy for investing in others and preparing for opportunity, the company promotes from within its existing ranks which has benefitted from robust training and mentoring programs, meaning new associates who start at entry level are able to make a lifelong career with the company, even today.

Several retirement announcements and promotions in the last year showed that many had been with the company for at least 20 years:

• Super Markets Lakeland Division Vice President Sam Pero retired at the end of 2022 after 45 years with the company. He started his career with Publix in 1977 as a part-time front service clerk.

• Subsequently, Marsha Singh was promoted to Pero’s position. Singh started in 1993 as a part-time casher with Publix.

• Vice President of Finance Gino DiGrazia retired at year-end as well. He started with Publix in 1992 as a manager of business analysis and reporting

• Vice President of Benefits Administration and Assistance Secretary Linda Kane retired at the end of 2022. She started her career with Publix in 1994 as a treasury analyst.

• Monica Allman was therefore promoted to Vice President of Benefits Administration. She started with Publix in 2001 as a project manager in benefits administration.

Publix provides the structure to learn and grow, the space to move up and the incentive in the form of company recognition to strive for more. Yearly recognition, including the George W. Jenkins Award and the President’s Award, drive managers at store and district levels to achieve their best, supported by the leadership guidelines set forth by Jenkins from the very beginning.

Under the scope of the greater community, Publix was also recognized by the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation which put the company on its list of 2022 Recycling Champions as Best Overall.

“Publix remains committed to being responsible citizens in our communities, which includes caring for the environment,” said Publix Director of Environmental and Sustainability Programs Michael Hewett. “We continuously examine processes in our stores, warehouses and offices, looking for additional ways to recycle.”

Publix was recognized for its commitment across the company to recycling education, including its plastic bag recycling campaign to educate customers and its internal Green Routine program which encourages associates to make sustainable choices. Through efforts like these, Publix has recycled more than 615 million pounds of cardboard and more than 21 million pounds of soft plastics in 2021.

Outreach—In addition to its nimble charitable donation operation that can quickly harness the generosity of its customers and team members in support of causes including hurricane relief and humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Publix has also continued to aggressively invest in its local communities.

In November, Publix and Publix Super Markets Charities (PSMC) announced they were extending their commitment to help alleviate hunger in the communities they serve. PSMC donated $5.65 million to 328 food banks and other nonprofit organizations focused on hunger alleviation. It then further donated $3.85 million to 22 Feeding America member food banks for each to purchase and equip a mobile food pantry. Publix and PSMC have pledged a total of $23 million to support hunger alleviation through the end of 2023, including a commitment to provide more than 10 million pounds of produce to stock 20 of the mobile pantries in their first year of operation.

Looking Ahead—Publix is primed to enter its eighth state of operation this year when the first Louisville, KY store is set to open. In all, the company has four Kentucky locations in the works –the fourth was only announced in December 2022 and represents the third in the city of Louisville. Lexington, KY will house the fourth location.

“Publix provides premier customer service, along with a deep commitment to the communities in which we serve,” said Brous. “We are excited for Kentuckians to begin experiencing the Publix difference as we continue to expand our footprint in the Bluegrass State.”

In the area of continued customer care and focus, Publix is tailoring its pharmacy services to the needs of customers while they’re still under hospital care. Publix Pharmacy announced in December it was working with Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, FL, to provide bedside delivery of prescription medications to patients before they’re discharged.

“At Publix Pharmacy, caring for our customers and communities means continuing to look for ways to provide services and convenience for our patients when they need it most,” said Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Dain Rusk. “We are excited to extend bedside delivery of prescription medications to patients of Manatee Memorial Hospital and hope to help with their road to recovery after discharge.”

Bedside delivery is provided free of charge at select hospital locations. The Publix at Palmetto would handle any necessary insurance authorizations, then fill and deliver the order directly to the patient or the nursing unit. Patients can make payments upon delivery and obtain future refills from any Publix Pharmacy.

“Our goal in our collaboration with Publix Pharmacy is to provide our patients with the medications they need to keep them healthy before they leave the building,” said Manatee Memorial Hospital Director of Pharmacy James Wengerd. “Patients will leave our hospital knowing what medications to take and how much they cost.”