Publix’s sales for the second quarter of 2014 were $7.5 billion, a 6.6 percent increase from last year’s $7 billion. Sales for the second quarter were positively impacted 1.3 percent due to the Easter holiday being in the second quarter of 2014. Comparable-store sales for the second quarter increased 6.3 percent.
Net earnings for the second quarter were $404.1 million, compared to $400.9 million in 2013, an increase of 0.8 percent. Earnings per share for the second quarter increased to $0.52 for 2014, up from $0.51 per share in 2013. Publix’s sales for the first half of 2014 were $15.3 billion, a 5.3 percent increase from last year’s $14.5 billion. Comparable-store sales for the first half of 2014 increased 5.1 percent.
Net earnings for the first half of 2014 were $897.8 million, compared to $872.1 million in 2013, an increase of 2.9 percent. Earnings per share increased to $1.15 for the first half of 2014, up from $1.12 per share in 2013.
Effective Aug. 1, Publix’s stock price increased from $32.50 per share to $33.85 per share. Publix stock is not publicly traded and is made available for sale only to current Publix associates and members of its board of directors.
“This is our eighth consecutive quarter with an increase in our stock price,” said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw. “Our associate owners deserve the credit for continuing to make us a leader in our industry.”
Publix opening store in Chattanooga this week
In other Publix news, the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer will open a downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., store at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The store is located at 400 North Market St.
“Publix is proud to be part of the growth of the Chattanooga community,” said Brenda Reid, media and community relations manager for Publix. “The store was designed to complement the current historical architecture in North Shore while accommodating the community with a state-of-the art supermarket.”
The 45,800-s.f. store, with approximately 125 associates, will have the traditional grocery, dairy and frozen food departments along with a full-service meat department where customers can have their orders custom cut and trimmed; a seafood counter where customers will have a variety of fresh fish and seafood options; the company’s popular bakery offerings, including an array of cakes, cookies and pies as well as an assortment of desserts and fresh baked breads; a full-service deli highlighting Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, as well as made-to-order sub sandwiches and award-winning fried or rotisserie chicken. The deli will feature an Online Easy Ordering system where customers can order subs, meats and cheeses online from a computer or smartphone and pick up their orders in store; a produce department offering both organic and conventionally grown fruits and vegetables; and a full-service pharmacy.
