By Megan - February 1, 2019

Presidents push Publix to prominence

Memory lane

Leading with purpose

They may not have shaped the nation but these Publix presidents provided vision and the know-how to make Publix what it is today. In honor of Presidents’ Day, we thought we’d look back at what our fearless leaders accomplished in the past 89 years.

Presidents

George Jenkins
President: 1930 – 1971
First job at Publix: Founder (1930)

  • 1930 — Opened the first Publix store in Winter Haven, Florida.
  • 1940 — Opened the first Publix Super Market.
  • 1945 — Purchased Lakeland Grocery Company, including 19 All American stores; Lakeland, Florida, becomes home to Publix headquarters.
  • 1951 — Built the Lakeland warehouse and corporate office (now the George Jenkins building).
  • 1959 — Opened the first store in Miami, #46, and the first in Jacksonville, Florida, #49.
  • 1964 — Opened the 100th store in Winter Haven, Florida.

 

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Charlie Jenkins Sr.
President: 1972 – 1973
First job at Publix: Store Manager, #2, Lake Wales, Florida (1946)

  • 1972 — Opened Publix Bakery Plant.
  • 1973 — Opened the Jacksonville office and warehouse.

 

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Joe Blanton
President: 1973 – 1983
First job at Publix: Meat Supervisor (1945)

  • 1979 — #77, Palm Coast, Florida, became the first full-scanning store.
  • 1980 — Opened the Lakeland Dairy Plant.
  • 1982 — Installed the first Presto! ATMs in southeast Florida.

 

Mark Hollis Past Publix President 2007

Mark Hollis
President: 1984 – 1995
First job at Publix: Potato Bagger, #5, Lakeland, Florida (1946)

  • 1984 — Built the deli plant in Lakeland.
  • 1986 — Established the first in-store pharmacy.
  • 1991 — Opened the first store in Georgia, #412, Savannah.
  • 1993 — Opened the first store in South Carolina, #449, Mount Pleasant.
  • 1994 — Opened the Atlanta Dairy Plant in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

 

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Ed Crenshaw
President: 1996 – 2007
First job at Publix: Stock Clerk, #2, Lake Wales, Florida (1974)

  • 1996 — Opened the first store in Alabama, #573, Owens Cross Roads.
  • 2000 — Debuted the Aprons brand.
  • 2002 — Opened first stores in Tennessee.
  • 2003 — Launched Publix Wine and Spirits, later known as Publix Liquors, in Miami.
  • 2004 — Opened the Atlanta Bakery Plant.

 

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Todd Jones
President: 2007 – 2018
First job at Publix: Front service clerk, #191, New Smyrna Beach, Florida (1980)

  • 2008 — Purchased 49 Albertsons locations in Florida.
  • 2009 — Opened the 1,000th store, #1239, St. Augustine, Florida.
  • 2012 — Announced the creation of the Charlotte Division.
  • 2013 — Launched Online Easy Ordering to customers.
  • 2014 — Opened the first North Carolina store, #1442, Charlotte.
  • 2016 — Launched grocery delivery service in the Miami Division.
  • 2017 — Opened the first Virginia store, #1566, Glen Allen.
  • 2018 — Opened the first new-format GreenWise Market store, #1573, Tallahassee, Florida.

Meet our new president

President Kevin Murphy was promoted to his current position on Jan. 1. He kicked off his Publix career as a front service clerk in Margate, Florida, and worked in various positions before being promoted to store manager in 1995. He was promoted to Jacksonville Division district manager in 2003, Atlanta Division regional director in 2009, Miami Division vice president in 2014 and to senior vice president of retail operations in 2016.

Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy
President: Current
First job at Publix: Front service clerk, #214, Margate, Florida (1984)