Our founder, George Jenkins, was a visionary entrepreneur who didn’t limit his inspiration to just visiting other grocery stores. Instead, he traveled the world looking for the next exciting convenience or service to make shopping at Publix a special experience. Fluorescent lighting. Frozen-food cases. Piped-in music. Open dairy cases. All these things seem standard today but were innovative to customers in 1940, when Jenkins opened his dream store in Winter Haven, Florida. Customers traveled far and wide just to enjoy the pleasurable shopping experience. Jenkins believed in continuous improvement. He once said, “Every store, we feel, is the best that can be built. And yet we know that even as that front door is unlocked on opening day, there are new innovations on the drawing board for the next store. That’s one of the things that really makes this an exciting business. It’s ever-changing, it’s ever-challenging. There is always the opportunity to grow.” Innovation is at the forefront of our thinking. At Publix, we encourage new ideas from our associates. Jenkins understood the importance of innovation and improvement to his growing company. Today, we still champion that same spirit as we encourage our associates to share their ideas for improvement. At Publix, we’re always looking forward and imagining what opportunities lie ahead. It’s all part of what makes Publix a great place to work.