George W Jenkins Biography
George Washington Jenkins Jr. () was an American businessman who founded Publix Super Markets. As of 2016, the employee-owned, privately held corporation included 1,100 stores in the Southeastern United States with 170,000 employees and sales of $32 billion.
On Sept. 6, 1930, George Jenkins opened his first store, called Publix Food Store, in Winter Haven. In 1935, he opened a second location across town.
He closed these first two stores to open his dream store, the first Publix Super Market, on Nov. 8, 1940. George Jenkins was born in 1907 in Warm Springs, Georgia, where his family owned a general store.
In 1925, Jenkins met the owner of 14 Piggly Wiggly grocery stores, who offered Jenkins a job as a clerk. Explore the life of George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix, his business success, and philanthropic contributions.
A true American story. George W. Jenkins High School in Lakeland was named in his honor in 1993.
Jenkins received the Horatio Alger Award in 2007, and was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2009. Growing up around and working at an assortment of grocery/general stores all his life, George knew his vocation would involve the grocery business.
George W. Jenkins is a memorable man because he created a multi billion dollar chain of grocery stores known as Publix. George Washington Jenkins Jr.
is a pivotal figure in retail innovation and community service in the Southeastern United States. As the founder of Publix Super Markets, Jenkins revolutionized the grocery industry with his visionary approach and steadfast commitment to his employees and customers. Read the full biography of George W.
Jenkins, including facts, birthday, life story, profession, family and more. George W Jenkins is one of the most popular and richest Entrepreneur who was born on in Georgia, United States. Entrepreneur who established the supermarket chain owned by employees Publix Super Markets, Inc.
in 1930. His name was George Washington Jenkins Jr., the founder of Publix Super markets. George Jenkins Jr.
was one of eight children of a small town general merchandize store-owner. As a boy, he showed enthusiasm working in the family grocery. He attended Georgia Tech but did not finish any degree.
