What do you get when you add 60,000 pies and 192,000 rolls? An average day at Publix’s Atlanta bakery plant.
Publix purchased its 110,000-squarefoot Atlanta bakery plant in 2004. Today, more than 110 associates work at the plant
The plant is the sole manufacturer of our bakery pies and premium frozen pies. Bakery pie sales can greatly increase leading up to and during key holidays and promotions. To ensure there is sufficient inventory for each sales event, associates in manufacturing production planning and the bakery retail business unit collaborate closely throughout the year to balance available production line capacity. In some cases, production plans begin three to four months prior to an event.
Our Key lime pie is the top-selling pie yearround, but during the holidays, customers come to Publix looking for our pumpkin pie.
“Most of our competitors use canned pumpkin, but our holiday pies are made with fresh pumpkin from an exclusive supplier in Oregon,” said Vice President of Manufacturing Jeff Stephens. “For four to five weeks beginning the last week of September, the plant works around the clock to produce pumpkin pies to meet our holiday demand.”
Our pies also stand out in national competitions. Each year, Publix enters pies in the American Pie Council’s National Pie Championships. This year, our new chocolate pecan coconut pie, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler pie won awards in the commercial division. In past years, our apple, Key lime, coconut custard, mixed berry and cherry pies have won championship awards.
The plant offers more than just pies. Before Publix purchased the Atlanta bakery plant, our rolls were produced at the Lakeland bakery plant or by outside suppliers. In late 2009, a roll production line was refurbished and moved to Atlanta as an opportunity to grow the plant’s volume and Publix’s roll production capacity. Today, the plant manufactures three varieties of deli sub rolls.
Publix purchased the Atlanta bakery plant in 2004. Today, the plant produces more than 40 types of pies and three varieties of deli sub rolls.
Publix News Live: Life of Pie
Watch Publix News Live to follow our newest bakery pie throughout production, from basic ingredients to finished product.