Publix to expand Lakeland headquarters
Publix Super Markets plans to expand its corporate headquarters in Lakeland and bring on 700 new employees.
Publix announced Thursday that it plans to complete the expansion by 2027, bringing the workforce there to 2,100 employees.
Publix has applied with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for economic incentives and said in state documents it plans to spend as much as $25 million on the project. The state has not said how much in incentives Publix could be eligible for.
“These additional jobs will help us support our store associates as they continue to provide the premier service our customers expect,” Publix CEO and President Todd Jones said in a statement. “We are proud of the role we continue to play in the great state of Florida.”
Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for U.S. Senate, was in Lakeland to make the announcement.
The Publix corporate headquarters expansion will add about 190,000 square feet of space and bring the building to 510,000 square feet.
Publix did not say what kind of jobs or salaries would be for new employees at the corporate facility.
Construction is supposed to start later this year. The Publix headquarters building is southeast of downtown Lakeland and north of Lakeland Linder International Airport.
Publix has 1,198 stores in seven states, including 749 in Florida. It also has about 190,000 employees.
Publix built its current headquarters in Lakeland in 2001. It originally had 800 employees there but has since grown to 1,400.
Since that time, Publix has also added 500 new grocery stores and expanded to markets such as Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Publix made a $2.3 billion profit in 2017 on $34.6 billion in sales. Its stock is privately traded and only available to employees and directors.