Last week’s program was provided by Rotarian Randy Larson.  Randy’s guest speaker was Brian West, Media and Communications Manager with Publix.  Brian spoke to the club about the “Greenwise” stores. 

 

 

    Publix Super Markets opened a freestanding GreenWise Market in Tallahassee, Florida, that reflects the ongoing evolution of the specialty/natural foods banner.  The store has dropped “Publix” from its name and downsized from previous freestanding GreenWise Market incarnations, but it maintains its focus on organic and natural offerings, as well as prepared foods. At 29,000 square feet, it’s about 25 percent smaller than the original freestanding Publix GreenWise Market that first debuted in 2007 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  After opening three of the original-format Publix GreenWise Markets, Lakeland, Florida-based Publix switched in 2010 to opening stores under a “hybrid” format that incorporated elements from the GreenWise Market test stores into traditional Publix supermarkets. The retailer also continues to use the GreenWise name on organic, natural and better-for-you private label products in its traditional supermarkets.  Now that it has updated the revamped GreenWise Market concept, the company said it is planning to open three more stores under the banner in 2019, in Lakeland and Boca Raton, Florida, and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and it has another planned for an unspecified opening date in Marietta, Georgia. 

    The new GreenWise Market format is divided into five sections based on the product assortment and consumer experience found in each: Care: Health and beauty items, including vitamins and nutritional supplements; Finds: Curated assortment of specialty food items, including wines and cheeses; Eats: Prepared foods including sandwiches, salads, bowls, sushi and pizza; Cuts: Sustainably sourced seafood, meats raised without antibiotics or added hormones, store-made sausages; and ours: Kombucha on tap, craft beers, wine, smoothies and coffee, to consume on-premises or to go.  The store also offers a seating area in the mezzanine level where customers can relax and enjoy their food and beverage purchases. 

     There are currently six locations in Florida, including the location in Lakeland with several more scheduled to open across Florida with one being in Tampa.  GreenWise Market is a new shopping experience that seems to be very successful.  Look for more “unique” shopping experiences from Publix in the future!