Publix earned the No. 50 spot on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list, marking its 29th consecutive year on the ranking. The Lakeland, Florida-based grocer is one of only four companies to appear on the list every year since its inception in 1998.
“Our associates are the key to perpetuating Publix’s culture and driving our success,” said Publix CEO Kevin Murphy. “It takes all 260,000 of us to continue making Publix a great place to work, and I’m proud our associates continue to consider us an employer of choice year after year.”
The ranking is produced by Great Place To Work in partnership with Fortune. The methodology draws on employee surveys measuring trust, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie, along with essay submissions. Eligible companies must hold a Great Place To Work Certification and employ at least 1,000 people in the U.S.
Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. Company Founder George Jenkins built the business on the belief that ownership drives accountability and care. Publix continues to offer eligible associates ownership opportunities through its employee stock ownership and employee stock purchase plans.
The company also points to its promote-from-within philosophy as a key driver of associate satisfaction. Since 1930, Publix has invested in training and career development designed to help associates advance internally.
Associate engagement extends beyond career development. Publix maintains an open-door policy dating back to Jenkins’ leadership and gathers formal feedback through an annual Associate Voice Survey. An online platform allows associates to submit, build on and endorse ideas to improve the company. The grocer also encourages community involvement through volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Publix operates 1,431 stores across eight states: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.
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