Publix is closing multiple stores in the southeastern United States. According to the latest reports, a total of 7 Publix stores in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have been affected by the closures, although the specific circumstances of each store vary.
Some of these stores will be replaced by updated supermarkets, rather than being permanently removed from the store network of Publix.
The stores affected in Florida are located in St. Petersburg, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Palm Bay. There are two stores in Georgia on the list, located in Atlanta and Chamblie; in addition, a store in Goose Creek, South Carolina, is also affected.
During this closure, the sales growth of Publix has significantly slowed down.
Publix Sales show pressure
Within the three months up to June 27, 2026, Publix achieved sales of $15.7 billion, which represents a mere 1% increase compared to the $15.6 billion reported in the same period last year.
More importantly, comparable store sales decreased by 0.5% in that quarter. In the first six months of this year, comparable store sales have cumulatively declined by 0.3%.
Publix clearly states that the weak performance is partly attributed to the economic environment that affects consumer spending. The company has also been affected by changes in the pricing of Medicare medications.
This slowdown is significantly different compared to the end of 2025. Publix recorded a comparable store sales growth of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025, followed by flat comparable sales in the first quarter of 2026, and then turned into negative growth in the second quarter.
Publix is in financial trouble?
Despite the trends of store closures and weakening sales, Publix's current financial results do not indicate that the company is facing a financial crisis.
The net profit for the second quarter was approximately $1.7 billion, representing a growth of 20.5% compared to the same period last year, which was around $1.4 billion. However, this growth largely came from unrealized gains on stock investments.
Excluding these earnings, the adjusted net profit reported by Publix is approximately $1.06 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of only 1.7%.
Publix is still opening new stores
The closure of these stores does not mean that Publix is abandoning its expansion strategy. While closing or replacing some stores, this supermarket giant continues to open new outlets within its business territory in the southeastern United States.
The latest reports indicate that Publix plans to open 6 new stores in October alone, with locations including Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and North Carolina, among others.
Danielle Walgenbach
Danielle is a journalist who covers cryptocurrency and financial markets, with over four years of reporting experience. She is adept at breaking down complex financial and economic issues into clear and solid reports.
