In 1955, our founder, Mr. George, wanted to celebrate Publix’s 1st quarter-century of success. He introduced a silver coin for Publix’s 25th anniversary; every associate received it as a gift. Mr. George carried extra coins and began giving them to associates he felt should be recognized for exceeding expectations.

In 1980, a gold coin was created for the 50th anniversary. Just like for the 25th anniversary, all associates were gifted a coin, and Mr. George continued his tradition of awarding deserving associates with the coin.

Today, we uphold this legacy through our Mr. George Gold Coin Award. It has become a symbol of recognizing associates who embrace the Publix culture and provide premier service the way Mr. George would have himself.

“We are not only in the grocery business, we’re in the people business,” Mr. George said.

Changes to aid in recognition

In 2016, we made a few changes to the Mr. George Gold Coin Award and the way we recognize associates. The packaging was changed to serve more as a memento. It comes packaged in a Publix-green keepsake folder with a thank-you message from our CEO on 1 side and a quote from Mr. George on the other: “Tomorrow, Publix will be a little better, or maybe not quite as good, depending on each one of us.” The coin itself was changed, so now our logo is engraved on 1 side, and the same quote from Mr. George is on the other.

A continued vision

Even with changes and revisions to the Mr. George Gold Coin, the reason we present this award to associates has remained the same — to recognize them for their outstanding service. Receiving a gold coin is a rare and unique honor; it means you’ve made a real difference in the lives of others.

Take a moment to read about Mr. George Gold Coin recipients in previous editions of Publix News.

The Mr. George Gold Coin Award is given to associates who embrace the Publix culture and provide premier service the way Mr. George himself would have. Receiving a gold coin means you’ve made a real difference in the lives of others by going above and beyond. Associates can become eligible for a gold coin by receiving praise through the customer care department, which reviews each case based on established criteria and guidelines.