Publix customers who know Bakery Manager Brittany Lavallee, #685, Temple Terrace, Florida, likely know how much she loves the holidays. It’s evident in her store’s incredible bakery displays.

“We call it the runway because of how much product we have out there,” said Brittany. “We like to have a spread that really stands out to our customers. Plus, I love the Christmas season. I count down the days.”

In addition to elaborate displays, Brittany is known for elaborate cakes. When a high school in Lakeland, Florida, won Florida’s state football championship, Brittany and a team created a 500-pound cake complete with a dreadnaught ship as a nod to the school’s mascot. Her holiday cakes are also elaborate, with customers coming in for cakes, mini cakes, cupcakes and decorated brownie pull-apart cakes for holiday parties.

Brittany has been with Publix for 12 years, all of which have been spent in the bakery. She found a passion for baking at a young age and worked for Publix while she attended the Florida Culinary Institute. After becoming a certified baking and pastry chef, she decided to make Publix — and her out-of-this-world cakes — a career.

During the holiday season, Brittany enjoys transforming desserts and baked goods into shapes like wreaths, snowmen and Santa hats.

“I love being creative,” she said. “Even with our cookie platters, we like to throw some red color in there to dress it up a little.”

For Brittany, adding a little extra spirit into the holidays is what the season is all about.

“It brings your family together, and it brings people you don’t even know together too,” she said. “It’s about spreading holiday cheer.”

Bakery Manager Brittany Lavallee and a team of Retail Improvement Specialists (RISs) build cake creations from cardboard before bringing the creations to life.

A Publix Super Market Charities (PSMC) cake

A replica of the first Publix Food Store

The dreadnaught cake for a high school football team in Lakeland, Florida

Learn how Brittany began making her famous cakes and see some of her creations!