Story · St. Petersburg
Publix Closes More Stores in 2026 Amid Walmart Competition, Rising Costs, and Online Grocery Growth
Publix is closing several supermarkets in 2026, including four locations in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, with two additional stores tied to redevelopment projects. The closures come despite a 2% rise in first-quarter sales to $16.1 billion, though net earnings fell 21.5% due to unrealized investment losses. The employee-owned grocery chain describes the closures as routine pruning, replacing underperforming stores while opening new ones. The moves reflect broader retail pressures from Walmart's 21% U.S. grocery market share, Kroger's e-commerce growth, and Amazon's expansion of Whole Foods and same-day delivery. Publix opened 52 stores, remodeled 89, and closed 10 in 2025, with six closures scheduled for on-site replacements.
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