[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLIX

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                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2005

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 75th 
Anniversary of Publix supermarkets.
  Publix was founded by George W. Jenkins in 1930 in Winter Haven, 
Florida. Since then, Publix has more than 125,000 associates in 
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. With more than 
800 stores, it is one of the fastest growing employee-owned Fortune 500 
companies.
  In 1940, George Jenkins mortgaged an orange grove he had acquired 
during the Depression for a down payment on his dream store--Florida's 
first supermarket. He built his ``food palace'' of marble, glass and 
stucco, and equipped it with innovations never seen before in a grocery 
store. Such innovations included air conditioning, fluorescent 
lighting, electriceye doors and frozen food cases. People from all over 
traveled hundreds of miles to partake in the Publix experience.
  In 1951, to help build and supply the stores, a 125,000-square-foot 
warehouse and headquarters complex was completed in Lakeland. Five 
years later, Publix recorded its first million-dollar profit year.
  George Jenkins' reputation grew along with the business and he was 
elected president of the Super Market Institute in 1961. In 1970, 
Publix achieved another high mark, recording nearly $500 million in 
sales, a figure that would double in four short years. In 1979, Publix 
had a record-breaking year with 15 new store openings.
  Publix turned 50 in 1980, and celebrated by kicking off a decade of 
technological innovation. In keeping with the company's affinity for 
using technology to make shopping more pleasurable, Publix introduced 
checkout scanning statewide.
  Publix marked another milestone in 1991 when the company crossed the 
state line to open a store in Savannah, Georgia. It was named in the 
top ten Best Companies to Work for in America in 1993, and is 
consistently recognized in the grocery business for superior quality 
and customer service by an American Customer Index survey.
  The company has received numerous awards during its 75 year history 
including Diversistar Award for excelling in promoting workplace 
diversity practices; named by Child magazine as one ofthe Top 10 
Family-Friendly Supermarkets; ``Outstanding Business'' award for 
recycling efforts from Recycle Today, Inc.; and the Governor's Business 
Diversification Award for Business Expansion.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Florida's 22nd District, I wish to commend 
the efforts of the Publix CEO, Charlie Jenkins, Jr. and everyone at 
Publix for their mission to provide quality food and their continued 
efforts to offer excellent customer service.

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