Publix Supermarkets’ northward and westward expansion continues, with the Lakeland, FL-based grocer slated to open a location in Louisville, KY Jan. 10. Plans have already been announced for five more stores in the Bluegrass State, including one to open in 2025 in suburban Cincinnati, home to powerhouse Kroger and its 2700 stores nationwide.
That will make eight states — including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia — where Publix has set up shop, and adds to the chain’s already potent lineup of more than 1320 stores.
Three of the new locations will be in Louisville, two in Lexington and one in Covington, KY — just across the river from Cincinnati and Kroger headquarters.
Rendering of Publix's 1st Louisville, Kentucky, store from the groundbreaking ceremony.
Founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida, Publix has grown from a single store into the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the United States. Its reputation for quality products, clean stores, and exceptional customer service has earned it a loyal customer base. Publix has expanded rapidly and steadily in the last dozen years across the Southeast; the foray into Kentucky is a testament to a successful business model and customer-centric approach.
The inaugural Kentucky store features over 55,000 square feet with a wide array of fresh produce, meats, and seafood, along with a variety of prepared foods and bakery items that Publix is famous for. The store will also feature the company’s GreenWise Market products, catering to health-conscious consumers seeking organic and natural options.
The announcement comes at a time when Publix is undergoing a leadership transition, with former CEO Todd Jones now chairman of the board, former President Kevin Murphy now CEO and former Senior VP Josh Goff now president, as of mid-November.
The decision to enter Kentucky aligns with Publix’s strategic growth plan, which involves careful market research and consideration of customer demand. The company’s meticulous approach to expansion ensures that each new store is a fit for the community it serves. It also reconfirms the company’s growth trajectory and interest in new markets.
Which should soon make for an interesting showdown in Cincinnati.
