George W. Jenkins
Encyclopedia
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.
. 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.
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.
Publix
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida.Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, it is an employee-owned, privately held corporation. Publix is currently ranked No. 86 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 and was ranked No...
. In 1930, despite the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Jenkins risked his career and everything he had to start a new grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
. He named the store, which would soon become a chain, Publix
Publix
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida.Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, it is an employee-owned, privately held corporation. Publix is currently ranked No. 86 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 and was ranked No...
.
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
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
in the company.
Birth and early years
Jenkins was born in 1907 in the tiny town of Warm Springs, GeorgiaWarm Springs, Georgia
Warm Springs is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-History:Warm Springs first came to prominence in the 19th century as a spa town, due to its mineral springs which flow constantly at nearly 32 °C...
. 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
Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly is a supermarket chain operating in the Midwestern and Southern regions of the United States, run by Piggly Wiggly, LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers. The current company headquarters is in Keene, New Hampshire....
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
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
, and after the store he managed was sold, he ended up opening another supermarket next door which became the first Publix Supermarket.
Expansion of Publix and later life
After changing Publix from an ordinary market to a supermarketSupermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
and moving the company's headquarters to Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, 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
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
on August 8, 1989, but continued to work and visit his supermarkets. In 1993, a new high school, George W. Jenkins High School
George W. Jenkins High School
George W. Jenkins High School serves Lakeland, FL, a city with a population of 94,000 and a surrounding community of more than 600,000. The school, more commonly known to its students as "George Jenkins" or "Jenkins," is part of the Polk County School system. It was founded in 1993 and named after...
, 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
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Mr. Jenkins was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2009.