Publix corporate grouping *

Publix Super Markets, Inc., commonly known as Publix, is an employee-owned, American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida. Publix operates throughout the Southeast, with locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, Publix is a private corporation that is wholly owned by present and past employees. It is currently ranked No. 81 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2015 and was ranked No. 8 on Forbes' 2014 list of America's Largest Private Companies and is the largest in Florida. The company's 2014 sales totaled US$30.6 billion, with profits of $1.74 billion, ranking #104 on Fortune magazine's Fortune 500 list of U.S. companies for 2014. Supermarket News ranked Publix No. 5 in the 2014 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on fiscal year sales. Based on 2014 revenue, Publix is the thirteenth-largest U.S. retailer and thirty-fifth in the world. Publix's current stock price is $41.80 per share, though stock in the company is only available for purchase by eligible active employees and non-employee members of its Board of Directors.
In 2011, Publix announced they would be moving into the North Carolina market, first opening stores in the Charlotte metropolitan area, and later announced construction of a new store in Asheville. The first Charlotte-area stores, located on the South Carolina side of the metropolitan area, opened in 2012; the first North Carolina store opened in Ballantyne on February 26, 2014. Concurrently, Publix purchased seven Charlotte-area locations from competitor BI-LO stores. Publix completed the purchase of property in Boone, NC on November 20, 2015 with plans to open in 2017.
Publix employs over 180,000 people at its 1,114 retail locations, cooking schools, corporate offices, eight grocery distribution centers, and ten manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing facilities produce its dairy, deli, bakery, and other food products.
Publix stands as one of the largest U.S. regional grocery chains: one of a very small number which operates over 1,000 locations. Its main competitors are the national grocery chains IGA, Kroger, SuperValu, and Whole Foods; consolidated retail and warehouse chains, including Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club; and several regional grocery chains, including BI-LO (operating under both its own name and that of its wholly owned subsidiary Winn-Dixie), Harris Teeter, Fresh Market, Piggly Wiggly, K-VA-T Food City, Food Lion, Ingles, and Rouses. Publix stores are found as far north as Clarksville, Tennessee, and as far south as Key West, Florida, while the westernmost location is in greater Mobile, Alabama. As of 2015, the state of Florida still has the largest number of stores, with 769, nearly three-quarters of the outlets.
Publix's slogan is "Where shopping is a pleasure." (Source: Wikipedia)