Publix is Florida’s Grocery Store

Recently I have seen some negative comments about Publix which made me SAD! Publix does soooo much GOOD in Florida Communities.

I will leave it up to Eliot Kleinberg, Florida’s Historian and Palm Beach Post Reporter, to tell you just how much GOOD and move on to my area of expertise.

Continental Baking - Wonder Bread, Hostess Cupcakes, and Twinkies

In the early 1970s, I worked for a Corporation that owned Continental Baking. My job was to learn the business, analyze results and report back to my boss. I got to spend time “out in the field.” I discovered GROCERY STORE PEOPLE.

Grocery Store People

GROCERY STORE PEOPLE are DEDICATED to their chosen profession. For me, “out in the field” meant flying my one City to the next, getting off the plane and driving around town visiting grocery stores. In the car, we discussed the history of the store, “price points,” store/ department managers, etc. - a traveling dog and pony show to teach me the business.

For the GROCERY STORE PEOPLE, Grocery Stores are their lives. Vacations, Weddings, Family Reunions - all had to include time for visitations to the Grocery Stores in the area.

MiddleMan Grocery Marketing/ Operations

Publix is a TRADITIONAL GROCERY STORE, relying heavily on MiddleMan for Marketing/Operations.

MiddleMen stock the shelves, decide on products on the shelf within their Product Category, give serious discounts every six weeks or so, to help pay for advertising in the weekly advertising flyer which is stuffed in mailboxes and included with local papers. The model has NOT changed since the 70s when I was visiting Grocery Stores

The MiddleMan Model is a DISASTER during the CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY.

MiddleMen are used to keeping their own schedule, showing up when they want and stocking the shelves, rearranging the soon to be stale dated items in the front and making sure everything on their selves looks pretty.

Not happening during the CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY.

Time for a Paradigm Shift

PUBLIX HAS REDUCED HOURS TO 8:00 AM TO 8:00 PM. THE HOURS FROM 8:00 PM TO 8:00 AM ARE FOR CLEANING AND RESTOCKING.

Publix workers are having a difficult time keeping the shelves stocked due to the "MiddleMen Model.". Publix own workers are WELL-TRAINED and AWESOME. Publix has no control over MIddleMen workers.

SOLUTION: Eliminate MiddleMen

• TERMINATE MiddleMen Contracts, effective immediately, Coronavirus Emergency.

• MiddleMen - Remove product or Reduce Price to clear shelves.

• Give MiddleMen a Publix Job Application. GOOD MiddleMen will not miss a day of work.

GAY PUBLIX IS TOO CROWDED, WITH NO ROOM FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SOLUTION: Rearrange Shelves

• Remove/ Rearrange shelves to allow ample room for SOCIAL DISTANCING.

• Top shelve/Bottom shelve for excel inventory only or leave empty.

Central Ordering/ Central Operations - Where to Start?

Publix Cashiering System already is Operational.

• What are Gay Publix customers favorite products?

  • At what price is each product profitable for Publix?

  • Reduce items carried by 20% to 40%, carrying only what customers will buy

• ONE PRICE - at Gay Publix and Regionally

  • Same price for each item every day - no sales or special deals

  • Exception - Fresh Produce, meats, fish, prepared foods

Please leave your suggestions in the comments section.

Go Team Publix - You are THE BEST!

These photos were taken last Fall. Sharon Koskoff is AT HOME, taking care of her health and observing 30 Days to Stop the Spread. Kelly O’Brien is At HOME, sewing face masks and keeping home super clean for her wife Fran O’B, Palm Beach Gardens Police, who is out in the Community keepings us safe.