Publix is known for being the supermarket where shopping is a pleasure. But how did it all get started? It’s all thanks to our founder, George W. Jenkins — affectionately known as Mr. George.
Mr. George was one of eight children born into the Jenkins family in Harris City, Georgia. His father owned a general store in their small town, where Mr. George worked from an early age. Although general stores in the early 1900s were very different from the Publix stores we see today, Mr. George learned valuable lessons like work ethic and customer service while working there.
In the 1920s, the boll weevil — a beetle that feeds on cotton buds — hit Harris City’s crops. As the economy in the small town declined, his father was forced to close shop and move the family to Atlanta, where he started a small grocery store. Mr. George was 16 years old at the time and wanted to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. To save money for college, he worked many different jobs, including hauling lumber, packing peaches and working at a shoe store.
Then, Mr. George traveled to Tampa, Florida, with nothing more than a change of clothes and $9 in his pocket, to try his hand at real estate. The real estate job fell through, so he decided to hitchhike back to Atlanta. But before leaving, an owner of several Piggly Wiggly food stores persuaded him to stay and work to save money before heading back. So, in June 1925, our founder started as a “broom pusher” and store clerk.
At the age of 22, Mr. George became the manager of a Piggly Wiggly in Winter Haven, Florida. Still, he desired more. He had bigger dreams of a grocery store that was so beautiful, shopping would truly be a pleasure. So he set out to talk to the newest owner of Piggly Wiggly. But the new owner wouldn’t meet with him to listen to his ideas, so Mr. George quit his job, took his savings and, in 1930, opened the first Publix Food Store.
Mr. George used his experiences to decide how he wanted to operate Publix. His vision and ideals are the foundation of our company, and his words continue to inspire us today.
The legacy of Mr. George’s Lessons: Treat Customers Like Royalty
In celebration of our 90th anniversary, we are sharing Mr. George’s lessons throughout the year.
Mr. George’s goal was to operate a better business than the competition. He focused on having a clean and well-stocked store, but, most importantly, he treated his customers like royalty. He built relationships with each customer and continually looked for ways to make the shopping experience more pleasurable. His early supermarket innovations attracted customers, but premier customer service kept them coming back.
