Despite hurricanes, Publix sees sales increase

Despite Hurricanes Helene and Milton hitting its home state of Florida, sales at Publix rose nearly 5% during its most recent quarter, the grocer reported Friday.

For the three-month period ended Sept. 28, Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix reported sales of $14.6 billion, up from $14 billion during the same period a year ago. Comparable-store sales rose 3.4% during the period.

The retailer estimates 0.6% of its sales growth was due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on Sept. 26. At least 227 deaths have been attributed to the Category 4 hurricane, the deadliest to hit the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina nearly two decades ago.

“During the last several weeks, many of our associates and customers have faced difficult times with Hurricane Helene and Milton,” Publix CEO Kevin Murphy said in a statement. “I’m so proud of our associates for the comfort they bring to our customers and their fellow associates.”

On the earnings news, Publix raised its stock price from $16.46 per share to $18.05 per share. Publix is not publicly traded and its stock is only available to current employees and its board of directors.

Among the grocer’s other earnings highlights:

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Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the United States, with more than 255,000 employees across 1,383 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.