In 1971, three Jacksonville stores opened on March 30 and another store opened on Oct. 5 . In 1974, the Jacksonville distribution center and office opened.
Fun fact: A share of Publix stock, valued at $2.50 in 1958, was worth $44 by 1969. By 1978, Publix was grossing nearly $2 billion annually, with profits of more than $32 million.Publix turned 50 in 1980 and celebrated by kicking off a decade of technological innovation. In keeping with the company’s penchant for using technology to make shopping more pleasurable, Publix introduced check-out scanning statewide.Since 1991, Plato the Publixaurus has been the mascot for Publix.