Publix Snatching Up Property Throughout Florida

As other grocery stores eye the Florida market, Publix is positioning itself to remain king in the Sunshine State.

The chain has spent $86 million in the past year alone, snapping up six shopping centers in Southwest Florida and has earmarked another $1.3 billion this year for acquisitions, construction and remodeling, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports.

With $30.6 billion in sales in 2014 alone, Publix already operates 1,098 stores in Florida and a few other states. The chain is “very fortunate to be in good financial health,” spokesman Brian West was quoted by News-Press as saying.

New acquisitions over the past few weeks have included property in the Tampa, Fort Myers and Miami areas, the Herald-Tribune reports, noting that the Lakeland-based chain has become a more aggressive buyer over the past two years.

Publix expansion comes on the heels of speculation that Kroger might be planning to expand its reach into the Florida market while Trader Joe’s continues to expand in the Sunshine State while also toppling Publix in a national customer satisfaction survey.

Where would you like to see a new Publix built? Share your thoughts by commenting below!

See Also:

• Is Kroger Plotting a Florida Invasion?
• Trader Joe’s Topples Publix in Customer Satisfaction Survey

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