If you work at Publix, you know Sept. 29 is a day to celebrate — it’s Mr. George’s birthday! Here at Publix, we affectionately call it Mr. George Day.

The Publix story began on Sept. 6, 1930, when George Jenkins opened the first Publix in Winter Haven, Florida. His mission was to be there for all associates and customers and give back to the community — parts of our culture that continue today.

“Mr. George believed in treating people with dignity and respect, and he wanted his associates to share their ideas and feel valued,” said Vice President of Human Resources Marcy Benton. “With Publix, he created a company that rewarded hard work and provided growth opportunities, knowing that the rest would take care of itself.”

In 93 years, we have grown from 1 store to more than 1,300 and employ over 250,000 associates — accomplishments Mr. George would likely be particularly proud of.

Mr. George Day gives associates an opportunity to learn about why our founder’s philosophies are the blueprint from which the Publix culture was built and how each of us plays a part in writing the next chapters of our company’s history.

“Mr. George’s principles live in all of us,” added Marcy. “We will continue to build on what he began and know that his values will guide us in Publix’s mission to be the premier quality food retailer in the world.”