George Jenkins, affectionately known as Mr. George, formed Publix and opened his first store in Winter Haven, Florida, in 1930. Mr. George led the company until Jan. 2, 1990, when his son, Howard Jenkins, was elected as chairman of the board and CEO. He passed away April 8, 1996, at the age of 88.
To celebrate Publix’s 90th anniversary, we wanted to recreate an interview with our founder, Mr. George. The answers to these questions were taken from excerpts of conference and convention speeches he gave during his career, as well as annual reports, media interviews and other publications. Let’s hear from our founder.
Where were you born?
Harris City, Georgia
What did you want to be when you were little?
A football player. I even worked at a lumber yard to bulk up for football.
What did you learn early on in this business?
When I opened the first Publix next door to the little Piggly Wiggly store that I had managed, I only took one person with me, but we earned the business of most of the customers, and that little store closed shop. I guess that’s where I first learned that people make the difference.
What do you enjoy most about working for Publix?
The thing I enjoy most is seeing people develop. To watch these young folks work in high school, maybe get a couple of years of college, and then work up to be a store manager, that’s the pleasure I get.
What brought you to Publix?
Having had a year or two at my dad’s (general store), I went to Tampa with no idea of ever being in the grocery business. That was the last thing I had on my mind — I went down to sell real estate. But when I got down to Tampa, I found out that the real estate market was oversaturated, and I’d better find another way to make a living. Anyway, I accidentally met a fella who owned 14 Piggly Wiggly stores, and he talked me into going to work for him. I eventually became store manager over in St. Petersburg. I was there for six months and then was promoted to the largest store the chain had, which was in Winter Haven. I managed it for four years, and then I opened the first Publix market in 1930. Got a second store opened in ’35, and then in ’40, we closed those two and opened the first supermarket.
What’s the secret behind Publix’s success?
It boils down to just a few things. We are a dedicated group of people, and we’re committed to doing a better job than people who compete with us and other companies. There will be ups and downs in the economy, and it’s a matter of running a better business than others to be successful. I think my little secret of success may have been that I was determined to run a better grocery store than anybody else.
What makes a difference at Publix?
We are in the people business, really. We’re dealing with people. So, you have to get along with people. Friendliness and attitude make a difference.
What does “Where Shopping is a Pleasure” mean to you?
This isn’t something we dreamed up out of the blue sky and white Florida sand. It’s a philosophy that has guided all our decisions and policies ever since we opened our first food store. We have tried to make good and sure that nothing, and I mean nothing, stands in the way of making that slogan a reality for every one of our customers.
What does the future hold for Publix?
Based on the beginnings and based on the opportunities that now lie ahead, as the old saying goes, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” There’s no limit to where Publix can go. We have a pretty good reputation now in the food business, not only in the United States but throughout the world.
