Who Owns Publix?

Publix Super Markets is owned by its employees and the Jenkins family. Current and former employees hold about 80% of the company’s shares, while the founding Jenkins family retains roughly 20%. In fiscal 2025, Publix reported $62.7 billion in sales across 1,430 stores in eight states.

Publix Products and Services Overview

How Did Publix Super Markets Get Its Name?

The name “Publix” did not come from the word “public.” George Jenkins borrowed it from Publix Theatres Corporation, a New York-based chain that operated at least 19 movie theaters across Florida during the 1920s and early 1930s. Many of those theaters were closing due to the Great Depression when Jenkins opened his first grocery store in 1930.

Jenkins later explained the choice simply: he liked how the name sounded. The theater company, originally tied to Adolph Zukor and Paramount Pictures, went bankrupt by 1935. By then, Jenkins had already established Publix Food Stores, Inc. in Winter Haven, Florida. The theaters themselves were known for air conditioning and art deco design, and Jenkins adopted both of those features in his own stores. The name stuck, and today it belongs entirely to the grocery chain that grew from that small 3,000-square-foot shop on Northwest 4th Street in Winter Haven.

Publix Super Markets Mission Statement

Publix’s mission is “to be the premier quality food retailer in the world.” The company pairs that goal with five commitments: a passionate focus on customer value, intolerance of waste, dedication to the dignity and employment security of its associates, stewardship for stockholders, and responsible citizenship in its communities.

The mission traces back to George Jenkins’s founding philosophy. He wanted a store where employees had real ownership and customers received reliable service. That ethos still shapes daily operations across all 1,430 locations. Publix has never had a layoff in its 95-year history.

The company’s guarantee reinforces the mission directly: any purchase that fails to satisfy a customer is refunded in full, no questions asked. Fortune has recognized Publix as a great place to work for 28 consecutive years, and the American Customer Satisfaction Index has repeatedly scored it at the top of the traditional supermarket category.

Who Owns Publix Super Markets?

Publix is a privately held, employee-owned company. Its stock is not traded on any public exchange and carries no ticker symbol. Only eligible active associates and members of the board of directors can purchase shares during designated offering periods.

Publix Ownership Structure

Employees and former employees collectively own about 80% of the company. The founding Jenkins family holds the remaining 20%. This split has remained stable for decades, and the company has no plans to go public.

Publix Origin, Founders, and Early History

George W. Jenkins Jr., born September 29, 1907, in Harris, Georgia, founded Publix on September 6, 1930. He had worked as a stock clerk and then a manager at Piggly Wiggly in Winter Haven, Florida, from 1926 to 1930.

The First Publix Store

Jenkins resigned from Piggly Wiggly after corporate management dismissed his improvement ideas. He opened Publix Food Store in downtown Winter Haven with 30 shares of stock priced at $100 each. Jenkins personally held 13 of those shares and sold four to friends.

By 1935 he had a second location. In 1940, he mortgaged an orange grove to build Florida’s first full supermarket at 199 West Central Avenue. That store had piped-in music, air conditioning, electric-eye automatic doors, and in-store doughnut and flower shops. Jenkins believed that if employees owned part of the company, they would work harder and care more. That early principle became Publix’s defining characteristic.

Largest Shareholders of Publix Super Markets

Who Is on the Board of Directors for Publix?

Executive Leadership

Jenkins Family Board Members

FAQs

What is the net worth of Publix?

Based on its stock price of $19.65 per share and approximately 3.26 billion outstanding shares, Publix’s estimated valuation is around $64 billion as of March 2026.

Is Publix an American company?

Yes. Publix Super Markets is headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, and operates exclusively in the Southeastern United States across eight states.

Who owns Publix?

Publix is owned by its current and former employees (about 80%) and the founding Jenkins family (about 20%). It is the largest employee-owned company in the United States.

When did Publix come out?

George W. Jenkins opened the first Publix Food Store on September 6, 1930, in Winter Haven, Florida. The first Publix Super Market opened on November 8, 1940.

Is Publix still operational?

Yes. Publix operates 1,430 stores across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky, with over 260,000 employees.

What is Publix’s market cap in 2026?

Publix is a private company and does not have a public market cap. Its estimated private valuation based on stock price and share count is approximately $64 billion as of early 2026.