Publix Marks Hybrid Opening With Cheese Sculpture

  Courtesy of Publix

ROCKLEDGE, Fla. — Publix Super Markets put artisan cheese in the spotlight with a 500-pound cheese sculpture here at the grand opening of its third hybrid store last weekend.

The sculpture was crafted in-store by Sarah Kaufmann aka “The Cheese Lady” on behalf of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Kaufmann carved a smiling sun and other cheerful-looking figures into the enormous block of aged cheddar from Henning’s, a Wisconsin cheesemaker.

The sculpture helped call attention to the full-service artisan cheese department a the new 56,000-square-foot hybrid concept store here in the chain’s Jacksonville, Fla., division. These cheese departments are a feature of all of the chain’s new hybrid stores and GreenWise Markets, Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten told SN.

“The unique mix of traditional and specialty products makes this store a destination for food-savvy shoppers in Rockledge and surrounding areas.” Patten pointed out that that Publix’s hybrid concept offers conventional items combined with an abundant selection of earth-friendly, all-natural and organic products.

The chain opened its first hybrid store in late 2010 in Naples, Fla., and its second in Atlanta last year.

Known for her cheese sculpting throughout the industry, Kaufmann, over the years, has crafted dozens of cheese sculptures for Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix. One memorable one was a six-foot alligator at a Gainesville store.