| George W. Jenkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1907 Warm Springs, Georgia |
| Died | April 8, 1996 (aged 88) Lakeland, Florida |
| Occupation | Founder, Publix Super Markets |
George Washington Jenkins (September 29, 1907 – April 8, 1996) was an American businessman and founder of Publix Super Markets. In 1930, despite the Great Depression, Jenkins risked his career and everything he had to start a new grocery store. He named the store, which would soon become a chain, Publix.
Jenkins was affectionately called "Mr. George" by his associates, who all had a good relationship with him. He returned their goodwill and hard work by giving them stock in the company.
Jenkins was born in 1907 in the tiny town of Warm Springs, Georgia. In 1924 he entered Georgia Tech and at the end of his freshman year of college, he went on vacation to Florida. While on vacation, he met the owner of 14 Piggly Wiggly stores in Florida and was offered a job. After starting out as a clerk, he quickly rose to store manager, and never went back to college. He eventually ended up managing a Piggly Wiggly in Winter Haven, Florida, and after the store he managed was sold, he ended up opening another supermarket next door which became the first Publix Supermarket.
After changing Publix from an ordinary market to a supermarket and moving the company's headquarters to Lakeland, Florida, the business grew. In the 1950s, bakeries were added to the stores. In the 1980s, Publix added pharmacies. In the 1990s, the chain started to expand for the first time outside of Florida, starting in Georgia.
Mr. Jenkins suffered a stroke on August 8, 1989, but continued to work and visit his supermarkets. In 1993, a new high school, George W. Jenkins High School, in Lakeland was named after him. Jenkins died in 1996 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, leaving his wealth to charity, and his family, which continues to run the company.
Publix Super Markets now operates in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Mr. Jenkins was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2009.
