“Location, location, location.” Vice President of Real Estate Strategy & Operations Bridgid O’Connor says these three words are key to building new stores.

Mr. George personally selected store sites until we grew too large for one person to manage all the deals. Now, we have a dedicated real estate department to oversee this process.

Publix can grow in one of two ways: by organic development or by acquisition. Organic development is when we build stores from the ground up. Sometimes, we buy an existing store and convert it into a Publix.

Real estate strategy associates work with landowners and developers to secure new store locations. When a new location is announced, more than three years of research and planning have already occurred.

The way we manage each property depends on whether it is in a leased location or a company-controlled shopping center. For stores in leased spaces, our real estate team works closely with landlords to make sure certain lease responsibilities — such as maintaining building exteriors, sidewalks and parking lots — are met. The team also helps protect the long-term success of the shopping center by addressing issues like roadwork that impact access to it.

Publix focuses on finding the best locations for expansion. Behind every new store are multiple teams working diligently to meet our customers’ needs.