Publix Hits $15B in 2001 Sales, Up 4.9%

LAKELAND, FL-With 495,402 sf of new stores already open in 12 Southeast markets this year, locally based, employee-owned Publix Supermarkets Inc. is aiming for another record sales year after posting sales of $15.3 billion in fiscal 2001 that ended Dec. 29. The volume was a 4.9% increase over $14.6 billion in fiscal 2000 that ran for 53 weeks.

The 691-store, 71-year-old grocery chain, with 124,000 employees, showed net earnings of $530.4 million, the same number posted in fiscal 2000. Earnings per share rose to $2.62 for 2001, up from $2.52 in 2000. Stores open at least a year boosted sales by 3.2%.

The company is the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States.