Recently, you went to Publix, and you couldn’t help but wonder why the food is so expensive.
Why is it that Publix seems to be more expensive than the other grocery stores you frequent?
There are a lot of reasons.
Some of it is justified, some of it is illusion, and some of it is just how it has to be.
Why Is Publix So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
1. High Quality Of Food
Generally, when a grocery store is more expensive, it’s because they have a higher quality of product.
When it comes to Publix, that includes not just food products but also appliances and general household goods.
It’s easiest to see in the produce section, though.
You might be spending more, but you have a wider variety of fruits and vegetables to choose from, and what is available is of generally higher quality.
You are paying more, that’s true, but you’re paying more for something that is generally seen as better.
That’s not true of all products, which is why many conscientious shoppers will actually go to one or two stores for different things.
You might care about the quality of your mangoes, for instance, but not really care about how high in quality your paper napkins are.
Higher quality food, it should be noted, doesn’t always mean healthier.
When it comes to produce, what is considered more expensive and “higher quality” is usually organic, pesticide-free, and non-GMO.
However, there’s some debate as to whether that means it’s healthier for your body.
A significant amount of produce is more expensive because it’s more attractive.
Prettier produce (produce that’s larger, without scarring, and the right color) can look healthier, but it doesn’t taste better.
Before you buy produce and other products, educate yourself on what is actually “better.”
Some of it is legitimate and some of it is just aesthetics, which may not be important when you’re drawing up your budget.
2. Publix Associates Are Paid More
Labor costs are one of the most significant expenses for any grocery store.
Grocery stores are staffed by a lot of people.
Though you mostly only see people on cashier duty, there are people at the deli and the bakery, too.
There are people who are trying to help pick and sort items, people who are organizing the warehouse, and people who are helping customers to their cars with food.
Publix associates are paid more than the associates at many other grocery stores, and this also increases the amount that Publix has to charge.
There are many grocery stores that only pay minimum wage to their associates, especially when they just start.
While this does mean that you’re going to get a deal on your food, it also means that you might not get very good customer service.
People who are paid well do better.
If you’re going somewhere that people aren’t paid well, keep in mind that you might encounter damaged goods, spoiled food, or other issues more frequently.
It’s all a trade-off when it comes to price, convenience, and service.
3. Superior Customer Experience
The reason Publix pays its associates more, apart from trying to create a strong, family-style atmosphere, is to provide better customer service.
Publix associates are more willing to go out of their way to provide excellent customer service because this is something that Publix prioritizes.
This also means that the stores tend to be better organized, that they tend to be cleaner, and that there tend to be more associates per customer in terms of ratio.
Every company, including grocery stores, has specific values and a company culture.
Some grocery stores are based on being expensive, providing high-quality goods, and providing a good customer experience.
Other grocery stores are based on being the cheapest place to get food, and they have nearly no customer experience at all—customers just run in and out.
Sometimes customer experience matters, and sometimes it doesn’t.
If you just want one item and you don’t care about the customer experience, then going somewhere else might make more sense.
On the other hand, for longer shopping trips, and shopping trips where you need the help of knowledgeable associates, it may benefit you to go somewhere like Publix where associates will try to help.
One area customer service often does help is when exchanges have to be done.
It can be a tremendous chore to exchange products in a busier, cheaper grocery store.
4. High-Quality Bakeries And Delis
Many Publix customers swear by the quality of their bakeries and delis.
Not all grocery stores have in-house bakeries and delis.
The ones that do aren’t necessarily going to have good ones.
Publix is known for having high-quality bakery and deli departments, which can matter.
In terms of bakeries, a good grocery store bakery provides high-quality breads and other household baked goods.
They also provide things like birthday cakes, which can be extremely expensive to get from a regular “bakery.”
Again, it’s important to note that cost is relative and that the cost of the service should be compared not just to actual grocery stores, but also independent bakeries.
The deli section also has a wide arrangement of cheeses and meats, which can be great for those who are hosting people, who need snacks, or just love to prepare sandwiches.
Being able to get a wide array of foods that are ready-made can be a benefit in itself because it means that you need to spend less time on your food.
That can also mean more time working or focusing on your family.
Because Publix has high-quality bakeries and delis (which can be a draw in and of themselves), that also means they can sometimes charge more for their services.
Quality doesn’t come cheap.
You can have things good, fast, or cheap, but rarely all three.
Of course, this is just why Publix tends to be more expensive.
It isn’t a reason for doing all your shopping at Publix.
In fact, you can avail yourself of Publix’s deli and its bakery while doing all your other shopping somewhere else entirely, if you want to get the best of both worlds.
It’s just more convenient to do it all in one place.
5. Extra Services For Seniors
Part of Publix’s customer service and brand identity is that it provides extra services for seniors.
Not only do seniors get better deals and discounts, but they can be walked out to their car and have their products picked for them.
This makes it far easier for seniors who have low mobility or who have difficulty with their transportation and timing.
Of course, providing extra services does cost money.
Publix has to remain more highly staffed because they need to be able to send their staff members to help the elderly.
Publix also needs to incrementally raise prices on goods if they’re going to give seniors deep discounts.
For those who are seniors, Publix can be cheaper and more convenient, due to these many advantages.
Those who aren’t seniors may still appreciate that seniors are being cared for and may remain loyal to Publix due to the services that they provide elderly family members.
Publix does emphasize a family-first, community-first approach that is more lacking in some other grocery stores, and this can be something that people are willing to pay a little more for.
That being said, for those who aren’t seniors and for those who don’t have seniors in their families, the additional services could be irrelevant.
Those who just want to balance their monthly budget may want to go to stores that are more likely to cater to singles, college students, and those who have both limited time and money.
6. Comparison To Wal-Mart
When we say “expensive,” what are we actually talking about?
How do we know what a gallon of milk costs or a loaf of bread?
One major reason people think Publix is expensive is that they’re comparing it to cheaper stores.
“Expensive” is a relative statement, and yes, Publix is often expensive compared to Wal-Mart.
However, Publix resides in a space that’s sort of between Wal-Mart and other stores like Whole Foods.
It’s more akin to Target. It’s a little more expensive, but it has better goods and better customer service.
If you were comparing Publix to Whole Foods instead of Wal-Mart, you’d be asking, “Why is Publix so cheap?”
Then the question would be a little different and so would the answers.
The truth is that most grocery stores today are expensive compared to Wal-Mart.
Apart from other issues, Wal-Mart has very cheap labor and economies of scale on its side.
It is able to vertically integrate many of its products.
However, it’s also true that Wal-Mart isn’t always the cheapest option.
It can be necessary to determine what is going to be more expensive or less expensive on a granular level.
7. Not Everything Is More Expensive At Publix
Often, there can be the illusion that a space is more expensive than it is.
How does this occur?
Places like Wal-Mart have what they call “loss leaders.”
During things like Black Friday sales, loss leaders are usually giant items that you’ll only realistically buy once, like TVs.
During everyday shopping, loss leaders are products that you’re always going to buy, like milk and bread.
Wal-Mart-type stores will price milk, bread, and other general items much more cheaply, but other convenience items will often cost more.
They know that you probably only want to go to a single place.
If you compare your Publix receipt to an identical receipt at Wal-Mart, you might be surprised to find out that while the milk, bread, and eggs were more expensive at Publix, nearly everything else—like paper towels, hand soap, body wash, etc.—was more expensive at Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart does this intentionally because it knows that most people don’t want to comparison shop or just don’t have the time.
Therefore, this is something to consider if you’re really trying to pare down your grocery bill.
It’s possible you might need to visit multiple stores to get the best deal on each product.
Once you get into the habit, you’ll get a feel for what is cheaper where.
8. Customers At Publix Can Save Through Coupons
Publix has quite a few customer loyalty initiatives.
While the price of something can seem quite high, it’s also true that a lot of people at Publix can save through coupons.
Coupons are usually distributed through Publix in the form of mailers or when people come in, and because of that, you can also plan your next shopping trip based on coupons.
Many people who are budgeting will take a look first at the proteins that are cheap (for instance, stew meat, pork chops, or chicken breast) and then plan their meals around the deals.
Coupons may not mean that everything in the store is cheaper, but it means with some planning, you can still end up with a pretty light receipt.
A lot of people today don’t really pay attention to coupons because they are just trying to plan their meals around what they see in the aisles, or they may already have an idea of what they want.
Taking the time to open a coupon flyer on a weekly basis will tell you how much you can normally save, and it may be time well spent if you can save a lot on your monthly grocery bills.
9. Publix Has A Lot of BOGO Deals
Apart from coupons, the deals that tend to be most invisible are BOGO deals.
BOGO deals are tricky because you buy one and you get one free or at a significant discount.
Effectively, they are the best kind of deals.
They are half off.
However, because you’re probably just thinking about grabbing a single item, you’re not really thinking about the advantage of having two.
With non-perishable or shelf-stable items, such as juice or condiments, it’s almost always better to take advantage of a BOGO.
It means that you’ll be able to keep your pantry stocked and you’ll run out of things less often.
It also means you’ll need to go to the store less often, which is an expense (of both time and money) itself.
Publix’s BOGO deals are often ignored just as bulk pricing is because people know in their minds what quantity they want and are looking at the prices for those quantities.
In general, it’s better to look at a per unit or per ounce price when comparing the cost of different items.
You could find, for instance, that a bottle of ketchup is much cheaper at another store, but that it’s also much smaller at that store.
Larger things are cheaper for stores to manage, but they may come with a heftier per unit price.
10. Publix Is Still Cheaper Than Many “Expensive” Stores
The bottom line with Publix is always going to be that it’s still cheaper than stores like Whole Foods.
Publix is comparable with Target and has high-quality goods that are comparable with a Target grocery store.
Because of this, there are going to be certain things that you just can’t get anywhere but Publix in your neighborhood.
If you want generic household products, it’s possible that you’re going to spend too much at Publix, but if you want things that you would only find in a more “expensive” store, you might want to give Publix a try.
In particular, exotic grains are usually easier to find in Publix than “expensive” stores like Whole Foods.
Even Whole Foods tends to be fairly cheap if you’re looking for discounts and buying in bulk.
Whether something is expensive or cheap depends on the products you’re buying, the quantity, and the quality that you demand.
Expensive stores are usually the organic, health food stores, and a lot of them have some crossover with the goods that are available at Publix.
You’re still probably saving money at Publix if you’re buying a lot of grains, produce, and other healthy food goods.
You will pay a premium at other stores because, at the other stores, you’re also paying for the branding.
Stores like Whole Foods spend a lot of money on advertising so they can claim to be as healthy as possible.
Publix doesn’t spend that money on advertising, so they can provide goods that are as good as expensive stores without the overhead.
NEXT: Why Is Vegan Food So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
Linda Shannon says
We shop at Walmart and at Publix, and sometimes at Winn-Dixies. I find many organic items at Walmart’s, same size as Publix. Overall I find Publix much higher, for same size and quality items than Walmart or Winn-Dixie. As a consumer and a senior, I am saving $50/week shopping mainly at Walmart’s, with an occasional trip to Publix.
I am not familiar with Publix ‘senior discount; or where to get their coupons. We are new to Florida and to Publix. I find it strange that produce costs more here in Florida than in Michigan. I am spending 20% more in Florida on groceries. Sigh.
I never shopped at Walmart until we moved to Florida. I am actually impressed with the quality of their grocery items, especially same brands as Publix carries. A can of Hunts’ tomato sauce is the same ‘quality’ when purchased at Walmart or Publix. Bay’s English muffins, Kerry Butter, Lump Crab, etc are all the same brand. Walmart has Lump Crab for sale at $23.95 a pound while Publix has Lump Crab at $16.95 for 1/2 lb.
You would do seniors and others who are on a grocery budget a service to review Walmart and compare item for item with Publix.
Larissa says
$14.63 for chicken breasts. NOT a family pack. Ridiculous, even the BOGO prices in the Metro Atlanta area are higher than a non-sale price at Kroger or Aldi, sometimes Ingles.
Pat says
I love Publix.. Stores are not crowded, isles are wide and very clean. Every associate is very friendly. At other stores like Walmart, when I ask for the location of a product, associates will point a few isles over and then return to doing something else. Publix associates will always walk with me and show me where the product is on the next isle. I buy fruit at Walmart, and the sticker identifying the name of the fruit is usually strategically placed over a bruise, cut or some type blemish. You don’t get that at Publix. Their fruit is always beautiful.
Mike Moore says
I live in California with a very competitive grocery store market. I go to a different grocery store everyday and am also familiar with them in Western Europe. I believe that the Publix type of retail market model will face problems in the future. Grocery discounting type stores, like Lidl, Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet, Sprouts, Walmart, The 99 Cents store ( yes, groceries), and the new Amazon grocery store are the future. The store model with higher prices, great customer service, quality bakery, broader range of goods, and “higher quality goods” is not sustainable in economic downturns. I have seen stores like Publix fail in those times, and with the rapidly growing numbers of European style discounters like Lidl , Trader Joe’s, and the Uber modern concept of Amazon grocery store, the competition in the future will force Publix to either reinvent themselves or sell out to a concern like Kroger’s..Most people do not care that a grocery store is “employee owned”, – they are looking for quality and low prices., and that is the bottom line that will prevail in the end and in leaner times.
Customer service is way down the list……
Leo says
Publix is not cheaper public items are rotten to fruit and vegetables a rotten I see many stores before but Publix does not care about me being banana is rotten apples rotten lots of food Rotten and they do nothing about it I was told that they had a problem they never fix the problem and I can prove it I went to a lot of public stores they put everything on the Shelf in the product product produce rather and what they do is they don’t take the old ones that I may go on the ship they don’t screen them so hahaha Publix take my word for it’s not what it is the folks if you’re smart stay away from those stores they’re expensive you had two primadonnas but they’re a bunch of BS
Trex says
Publix has cut its staff and increased prices since the pandemic started. BOGO’s are much more infrequent. Basic items like milk bread and cheese are nearly double the price of Walmart or Aldis. You can buy an avocado for .25 at Aldis or $1 at Publix. Onions and potatoes are 1/3 the price.
John M. says
Florida: Grows produces, citrus, process cows, poultry etc. Yet, green pepper is $4 + per lb. Why are local markets, which source locally .79 cents/lb. How are local Fresh markets, Aldi, and other grocers selling chicken breast at $2 /lb? I understand that Publix offers “quality’ though I’ve listed other places that find ways to deliver a great product that is much more affordable and on the spot considering the cost of living today. Publix does not cater to the community considering the cost of living rather disguise this as ‘quality’ and other services note prioritizes the general COL
Source local, Publix instead of paying the transport and logistics of off-shoring products, produce etc.
Anonymous says
Publix isn’t worth the 50%+ markup compared to aldi / walmart, even with BOGO deals. I can get shreeded cheese 2 for $7 at publix, or 1 for $2 at walmart.
John J says
Finished with Publix. Been a loyal customer for 35 years. They will lose their core consumer!! Going somewhere else . . .anywhere else where the prices are competitive.
JS says
I found Target to be a lot less expensive. Aldi and Walmart for certain items are a lot less expensiv3 and better quality.
Ting Ming says
$11.50 for ONE pizza at Publix. But wait. It’s on BOGO. Same thing at Walmart is $5 all the time. Ice cream is nearly $7. But wait, it goes on BOGO all the time. But I can to Walmart any time and get just one for $3.50. Mayo at publix is $5. I get it for $1.99 any day at Walmart. I don’t understand why people go to Publix near me when Walmart Neighborhood Market is across the street, less cost and there’s almost never a wait for self-checkout. Walmart has gone up a little during COVID. Publix has used it to take advantage and skyrocket their prices.
Frank M says
I’ve been a loyal Publix shopper for almost 40 years now . But their prices have spiraled completely out of control. I like to say that Publix doesn’t have an item that’s less than 5 dollars . Now they are instituting self check out . Crazy ! Time to go to other stores …..
Publix Guy says
Publix employee here (grocery/stock) and I can tell you the part about they pay their employees more is old and out of date. Sure, we make about $13 an hour starting off, which is more than my team lead makes (and he’s been there for 7 years.) the catch is, that $13 an hour is for about 8-16 hours a week, if you are lucky. Everyone besides mgmt is part time. No benefits besides the “affordable care plan” offered by the government, and the stock options are useless unless you are planning on retiring from there (most employees quit within the first year.) Ever since the Jenkins family stopped running things, Publix has been on that downward spiral. Go shop somewhere else where shopping may really BE a pleasure (and affordable.)
Joel says
Worked at Publix nine years until last year. Stock options are not useless, but they are intended to keep employees around. Publix gives full-timers, who were also most of the non-management employees at my store, Publix stock worth 8.5 percent of their annual pay. You can sell any time. Publix just won’t give you more the next year.
And I have doubts about the post claiming service oriented businesses will necessarily fail during hard times. Publix was founded during the Great Depression and has never laid off people despite having seen recessions since.
It’s hard to see that Publix is spiraling. The founder died in 1996 and the chain is still expanding.
Do shoppers care about employee owned? No., but some do care that when they ask a question they don’t get someone who shrugs his shoulders disinterestedly as he walks past you, as happened to me in a Walmart.
I shop at Walmart, too. And I buy tools at Harbor Freight. But if I really require a higher quality tool, Harbor Freight is not where I head. I’m willing to pay more at Home Depot and don’t expect either store to be all things to all people.
JS says
I’ve seen a lot of turnover at several local Publix stores as well as employees complaining on the floor discussing the lack of management care about their personal work – life balance. Many employees are retirees or just out of high school kids who realize soon enough that Target’s starting pay is $15.. Publix is falling down the rabbit hole not paying a decent living wage for the high food and gas prices. It’s reflecting in the low employee morale and lack of customer service as well as low inventory on shelves.
Former Garden State Resident says
I just moved to Collier County from the very expensive area of South NJ. We have a local Wegmans grocery store which is head and shoulders above Publix in quality, selection of food, prices and customer service.
I am blown away by the high prices at Publix and the low quality and food selection. The produce is not good at all. I will be shopping else where unless I need a quart of milk.
Mick says
I travel around the country and go to many different supermarkets. Some cheap some pricier. Publix is almost double for same product brands at other places and still higher than some of the pricier ones. The staff while being friendly, seem like they are running a script and I always feel like I’m at a car dealership, and I’m the next obligatory “hi can I help you.” drone targeted customer. Even if I look like I know what I’m doing. Let me be, if I need help then I’ll ask. One excuse for higher prices was, this is a retirement area. (Florida) So I heard, “screw the retired, let’s take their money, not help them save it and have life long customers”. I go here if I have to and thankfully that’s rare. Sorry Publix, reasons for inflating prices just aren’t justified in my opinion.
Anonymous says
Wow, what a joke. Go buy a loaf of bread or eggs or can goods or any food at publix or even ice cream and it’s way higher than Kroger or food lion.
JR says
Nah. I have comparison shopped recently and the I always spend at least $20 more per at Public for the same items that are cheaper at Walmart.
Wayne Evans says
Publix. Lots of hype. Pretty shined up bell peppers 2 to 3x than at Winn Dixie. Publix is expensive! Period!
No thanks. I’ll go to Winn Dixie or Wal Mart.