Publix recognized on PEOPLE’s Companies that Care list

Sep. 01, 2021

Publix has been recognized as the No. 18 “company that cares” by PEOPLE. This is Publix’s 2nd consecutive year on the list, which highlights the top U.S. companies that have succeeded in business while demonstrating outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees, their communities and the environment.

“Publix’s culture is focused on serving our customers and taking care of our associates, communities and planet,” said Vice President of Public Affairs John Provenzano. “Our responsibility extends beyond our aisles and into our communities, a commitment that started with our founder, Mr. George. Being recognized as a company that cares is an honor, especially as we’re continuing to navigate through the challenges of a pandemic.” 

Over the past year, we recognized associates for their commitment to providing premier service by issuing Publix gift cards several times and accelerating our annual pay increases. We also enhanced our benefits to meet our associates’ needs and hired thousands of new associates, encouraging many who had found themselves unexpectedly without work to apply. Additionally, associates were encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and associates who chose to be vaccinated were thanked for doing their part with a $125 Publix gift card. 

We also increased our decades-long support to help alleviate hunger in the communities we serve. During the pandemic, the need for food assistance reached unprecedented levels in this country. As the impact of coronavirus closed schools, restaurants, hotels and other establishments, farmers were forced to discard produce and milk due to decreased demand. In April 2020, we launched an initiative to purchase surplus produce and milk from farmers impacted by the pandemic and deliver it directly to food banks. Through that program, we purchased and delivered more than 18 million pounds of produce and over 500,000 gallons of milk to Feeding America member food banks throughout the Southeast. Then, in December 2020, with some food banks reporting as much as a 400% increase in demand, we created a new 6-week program to support 6 of Florida’s largest food banks with additional donations of pasta, canned vegetables, canned beans, cereal and boxed potatoes.

We also recognize the importance of water stewardship. Earlier this year, we announced we would donate a total of $2 million to the National Audubon Society and the National Park Foundation to protect, restore and conserve 2 areas of the Florida Everglades, a wetland that supplies nearly 8 million Floridians with fresh water and provides a natural habitat for endangered native species. The initiatives will return an estimated 174 million gallons of water per year to the local environment.

In compiling the list, PEOPLE magazine partnered with Great Place to Work to analyze surveys from more than 5 million employees on their experiences of how their workplaces have made a difference in their lives and their communities. Rankings also reflect Great Place to Work’s assessment of the generosity of each organization’s benefits, and their philanthropic and community support, with particular focus on activities that occurred in the last year.

To read about our ranking and see the full list of PEOPLE’s Companies that Care, visit the Companies that Care 2021 list on Great Place to Work’s website.