Aldi is spreading quickly in Florida, with around 80 stores opened here since the beginning of 2025, but it’s got a long way to go before it catches up to Publix.
The Lakeland-based grocery chain is the 800-pound gorilla of the grocery industry in the Sunshine State. About 900 of the more than 1,430 Publix stores in the chain are scattered across Florida, to the point where there are very few places where a Floridian is ever more than a few minutes away from getting a sub.
There are a lot more coming.
Publix opened a Winter Haven location on Thursday, June 18. There are three more Publix stores scheduled to open in the next few weeks, part of the company’s plan to expand even further into Florida and update older stores to a new, more modern design.
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A look through Publix’s store locator listings shows more than 20 stores “coming soon.” That includes two more each in Melbourne and Naples, and another on the way in Winter Haven, about 1,000 feet away from an existing store in Auburndale.
Why does Publix open stores so close to each other?
In almost Starbucks-levels of grouping, it is not that unusual to see two Publix locations near each other, often within just a few miles. Sometimes even closer than that. Two stores in Oakland Park are just a third of a mile apart.
Possibly the most (in)famous Publix pairing is two stores about 500 feet away from each other on Atlantic Boulevard in Neptune Beach.
But there are plenty of other Publix twins (Duplix?), including two Publix stores across the street from each other on University Blvd. in Orlando and a couple of stores across State Road 434 in Altamonte Springs. There are three different spots in St. Petersburg where two Publix stores are within a few blocks, and another in Gainesville. The Orlando Business Journal noted this month that Publix has filed the preliminary paperwork for a new store in the Hamlin neighborhood, less than a mile from an existing one.
Why? Sometimes it’s to serve a population-dense area or to accommodate traffic patterns.
“It is not unusual to have Publix locations near one another,” Lindsey Willis, Publix Media Relations manager, said in a June 18 email. “As a whole, we look for opportunities to best serve our customers and, in some cases, alleviate congestion in stores, in addition to allowing for the best traffic patterns in a particular area.
“There are a number of variables and evaluations utilized in making a decision on investing in real estate and building a facility,” she said, adding that such evaluations are “complex and proprietary.”
The GreenWise and Lucky’s conversions
Sometimes those Publix stores are close because one of the locations was a former Publix GreenWise-branded location that the company converted into a traditional store when it closed down the brand, or a closed competitor that Publix acquired. The second of the side-by-side Publixes in Neptune Beach was a former Lucky’s.
Even though both Publix stores in similar pairings are operated as normal stores, one of the twin stores may offer different options. One of the neighboring Neptune Beach locations has a Pours section, for example, a feature Publix has rolled out to select locations where shoppers can buy beverages, including beer and wine, to sip while they shop.
Some smaller converted Publix locations in a pairing may be missing a pharmacy or the adjacent liquor store.
Where are the next Publix stores opening in Florida?
Where else is Publix opening new or redesigned Florida stores?
According to a scan of the company’s store locator listings by ZIP code, these are the Publix stores listed as “coming soon.” No opening dates have been announced for these locations, and some may be in very early stages or could change.
This list only represents locations far enough along to make it on the company’s public map. There could be many more still in the planning and permit stages.
The most up-to-date list of verified new stores is the “New Store Openings” page, Willis said.
More grocery store chains expanding in Florida
Florida’s growing population is attracting a lot of grocery store chains besides Publix.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Publix opening dozens of stores in Florida expansion | Exclusive
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
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By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
