Is Publix still your go-to grocery store? Florida readers weigh in
Is Publix still your go-to grocery store? Florida readers weigh in
Clayton Park, USA TODAY NETWORK - FloridaThu, October 22, 2026 at 9:06 AM UTC
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Has Publix lost its magic? Industry trade publication Grocery Dive asked that question in a recent article on Florida's largest grocer's sharp dip in revenue growth this year.
USA TODAY Network-Florida asked several Florida consumers to weigh in on Publix.
Here's what they told us:
High prices are causing some to switch to discount grocers
Yes, Publix has lost its magic, according to Judith of North Port, who criticized the Lakeland-based chain for its high prices, its popular BOGO deals (Buy One, Get One Free) notwithstanding.
"I never shop at Publix now," she wrote in an email. "I mainly shop at Aldi and go to Walmart for gallon-sized skim milk which Aldi doesn't carry."
Aldi, the German discount grocer, is the fastest-growing grocery chain in America, adding dozens of new stores in Florida this year alone.
"Comparing regular EVERYDAY prices," Judith of North Port wrote, "I'm sure you'll find that Publix is the loser every single time."
Many Florida shoppers still believe in Publix
As far as Carole Nikla of Sarasota is concerned, Publix still has it.
"I love Publix," wrote Nikla. "They are clean, neat, have wonderful service, always take returns, have bag boys, have (a) good bakery, especially (their) key lime pie, and are consistent with their service all these years," she wrote.
Nikla remains a big fan, as she has been since Publix Super Markets opened its store at the Ringling Shopping Center in Sarasota in 1955.
"Mr. Jenkins was there for opening day," she fondly recalled referring to the chain's late founder George W. Jenkins.
Jenkins, who died in 1996 at age 88, was just 22 when he opened the first Publix Food Store in Winter Haven in 1930.
Today, the chain has more than 1,400 supermarkets in eight states. Its stores include nearly 900 in Florida, more than its two biggest rivals, Aldi and Walmart combined.
Jenkins' portrait is displayed at all of the chain's stores.
To some, Publix is slipping, but it's still their go-to store
Denise Weigand of Lake Worth Beach, wrote that in the 16 years she has lived in Florida, "Publix is still my go-to weekly shopping grocery store."
That said, in Weigand's view, there are some areas Publix has been slipping.
"Their produce department, at least at the two stores I use, has some issues," she wrote. "Some things on sale are not so fresh. ... I was at the store once and the worker was actually throwing the tomatoes on to the display."
Weigand also wrote that she sometimes sees aisles at her local Publix stores "blocked with giant carts for stocking shelves. ... Shoppers are often bottlenecked in these aisles."
And, according to Weigand, the quality of service is "going downhill."
"If you complain to their customer service site, they send you, I guess, now an AI-written statement that means nothing, like 'thanks for letting us know,'" she wrote. "Back in the day, someone responded to your individual complaint and often actually followed through on it."
Regardless, Weigand said she remains a loyal customer.
"Publix prices seem to be a bit higher than other stores, but they have good weekly sales and for the most part their BOGO offers are nice," she wrote. "There is no way I could do a full week's shop at either Aldi or Trader Joe's. (Unlike those two chains) Publix has every brand name out there, a good deli, bakery and fish department."
Some consumers split grocery shopping between Aldi, Publix
Taking a more neutral view is George Primm of Lantana. "At REGULAR price, Aldi wins every time, by a LOT," he wrote.
But like many Florida consumers these days, Primm splits his grocery shopping between both Aldi and Publix.
"I go to Publix for prescriptions and whatever BOGO sales are active that day," he wrote.
"The Lantana Aldi and Publix stores are less than a mile apart. I'm amazed that Aldi hasn't put the Publix store out of business."
Nevertheless, Primm noted one of the other big draws for the Lakeland-based grocer, in addition to its BOGO specials: "Publix has a lot larger selection. Their stores are LOTS bigger than Aldi, so they have the space."
Clayton Park is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida. He covers everything from insurance, utilities and home prices to groceries, gas and auto prices as the Florida consumer pocketbook reporter. If you have news tips, please send them to cpark@usatodayco.com. You can get all of Florida's best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://news-journalonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Publix still your go-to grocery store? Florida readers weigh in
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