Publix chain of supermarkets was established in 1930, and today it holds the reputation as one of the biggest and fastest growing supermarket chains in the country. The company is employee-owned and the total sales volume in 2008 was nearly $24 billion. The stores sell a vast variety of products including bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meats, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, wine and liquor, lottery tickets and fuel.

Publix operates in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama, with over one thousand retail stores. Publix also runs a restaurant chain in Florida that specializes exclusively in salads. Some of these restaurants are located at the Publix Supermarkets only.