George Washington Jenkins Jr. (September 29, 1907 – April 8, 1996) was an American businessman who founded Publix Super Markets.
As of 2016, the employee-owned, privately held corporation included 1,100 stores in the Southeastern United States with 170,000 employees and sales of $32 billion.
[1] Jenkins was known as "the state's largest commercial employer and head of a chain of stores that was a leader in introducing many innovations, including electric-eye doors and frozen food cases".
In the 1920s, the local cotton fields were decimated by the boll weevil, prompting Jenkins's father to move his business to Atlanta where people had money to buy groceries.
After four months, Jenkins was not convinced that the grocery business would become his vocation, so he accepted a job selling real estate; he sold one house, collecting a substantial commission.
That friend encouraged Jenkins to stay the week and—while viewing the sights—they visited another man who owned more than a dozen Piggly Wiggly markets.
[7] Although the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, Jenkins incorporated Publix Food Stores in 1930 with 30 shares, each valued at $100.
The butcher and assistant manager at Piggly Wiggly each purchased another four shares,[5] raising $1,200 to supplement Jenkins's savings of $1,300.
The chain fought back, bringing in a handsome and charming manager from Miami who supposedly garnered all the customers wherever he went.
There was a paved parking lot, and the front entrance utilized an electric eye automatic door opener.
The interior was air conditioned, with bright fluorescent lighting, wide aisles, and music playing in the background.
[9][10] In the 1950s, bakeries and flower shops were added, delicatessens came in the 1960s,[9] and in the 1990s, pharmacies and Presto!, a network of no-charge automated teller machines.
Florida Governor Lawton Chiles stated, "George made a tremendous contribution to our business climate, but perhaps more importantly, he was a true civic leader who had a deep dedication to improving our communities.
[14] In addition to local charities, the corporation supports five national campaigns: Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Children's Miracle Network, United Way of America, and Food for All.
[16] The article, "The Grocer the Girls All Love – George Jenkins, Lakeland, Florida" appeared in the October 16, 1954, issue of The Saturday Evening Post.
Jenkins received the Horatio Alger Award in 2007,[6] and was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2009.