Running Head: PUBLIX SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT 1
Publix Signature Assignment
Daylyn A. Mosher
Brandman University
PUBLIX SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT 2
Introduction
Publix has the goal of being the best grocery retailer through their mission statement and
values. One of the lessons within Snyder’s book points out the importance of standing out,
which Publix does successfully through putting its sustainability focus at the forefront of its
company’s operations (Snyder, 2017, p. 51). Publix has been economically and environmentally
successful due to its high standards in retail and sustainability.
Economic
Publix has had a hand in sustainability efforts for over the past thirty years (Karolefski,
2008). Part of the company’s mission statement is to be intolerant of waste and to devote high
standards of stewardship to their stockholders and bring responsible citizens in their local
communities. One of the programs that Publix itself initiated is the Get Into a Green Routine. It
started out as a program to focus on energy conservation education, then further expanded into
other areas such as waste reduction, recycling, and resource conservation such as water. Publix
encourages their associates to practice these environmental habits at work and at home through
this program (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation).
Another practice Publix is involved in is food waste reduction. Publix sends their food
wastes and food byproducts to local farmers from their manufacturing facilities in order to help
feed their livestock. In 2014 they sent over 27,000 tons. In the same year they were also able
have half of their stores participating in food waste recycling, which diverted another 20,500 tons
from being sent to landfills. They have also been involved with local food banks and have a
partnership with Feeding America, donating 115 million pounds of food (Food Waste Reduction
Alliance).
PUBLIX SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT 3
Since Publix has been involved in sustainable practices longer than the average grocery
retailer, it has become an integrated part of the company. While there is no direct link to profits
and their sustainable practices, Publix is doing well in the region of profits for a considerably
low-margin grocery business. Publix has had increasing profit margins between 2005 and 2017,
with a profit margin of 6.6% in 2017 (Ostrowski, 2018). Even more recent profits have seen
high numbers, going from $680.3 million in 2018 to $981 million in 2019, a 44% increase,
showing the company’s sustainable practices potentially have no negative impact on financial
success, or possibly even contribute to their financial increases (Fortune 500, 2019).
Social
Publix has gotten its company involved in multiple charitable efforts. Some of the
organizations that Publix has been involved and itself made donations to are Feeding America,
Habitat for Humanity, Food for Sharing, Food for All, March of Dimes, Special Olympics,
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Tools for Back to School, and other programs as well
(Publix, 2019a). These programs have allowed Publix to give back and reach its mission
statement objectives such as serving their local communities and being intolerant of food waste.
These attributes of participating in these charities also align with Snyder’s ideas, “Contribute to
good causes” (Snyder, 2017, p. 92). Publix is not obligated to support these charities or make
donations, but they provide to them because of the difference they want to make on their
communities and provide to society.
Publix has also been raising the wages of its employees. In 2018, Publix had raised its
employee wages three separate times (Springer, 2018). The average employee hourly wage is
$11.79 an hour, with a range between $9.24 to $17.07 an hour. The company has an almost
equal ratio of male to female workers, with females making up 50.1% of the Publix workforce
PUBLIX SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT 4
making $9 to $16 an hour. Males make about $9 to $18 an hour. The average salary is $62,000
with an average bonus pay for employees being about $1,347, and the range being between $70
to $10,000 in bonuses. Cashiers usually receive the lower end of the bonus of $70 (PayScale,
2019).
A program that Publix is not engaged with is the Fair Food Program. This program is a
partnership between food retailers, farmers, and farmworkers to ensure good working conditions
as well as fair wages for those involved on the farms (Fair Food Program). Publix has refused to
join this program because they will not be involved with their supplier’s labor disputes. The
Alliance For Fair Food believes that Publix is not living up to its mission statement in the aspect
of choosing their suppliers carefully with the highest integrity due to Red Diamond Farms, one
