New Grocery Store Chain Looking to Enter Northern Virginia Market

Popular grocery store chain Publix Super Markets Inc. says they are looking at locations across the entire state of Virginia, according to company spokeswoman Kim Reynolds.

KLNB Retail is representing Publix in Northern Virginia, according to Washington Business Journal. According to its Web site, KLNB also represents ALDI, Harris Teeter and Safeway.

The Publix grocery store reportedly has a cult following down South. Some of the reasons: The stores are "incredibly clean," for one thing, according to an article by Buzzfeed. Publix is also popular because:

• You can return unopened items without a receipt.
• They accept competitor's coupons.
• Publix has an app for using coupons, making lists and seeing recipes.

Northern Virginia is a competitive market, and has seen the opening of several different grocery store chains in the area in the past few years, including ALDI, Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, Wegmans and Mom's Organic Market. Safeway has opened newly built stores and Giant has also opened new stores.

Headquartered in Lakeland, Fla., Publix was founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins. Last month, Publix announced it was opening its first two stores in Virginia, in Bristol and Glen Allen in the greater Richmond area.

Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw commented on the store's entry into Virginia: "Being company owners, our associates continue to work diligently to exceed our customers' expectations, which has allowed Publix to experience continued growth. As we enter new markets and continue to open new stores, our associates prepare for new opportunities which supports our culture of promotion from within. We look forward to providing the great state of Virginia with the high quality service and products that our customers have come to expect and that have earned us recognition throughout the industry."

Virginia will mark the company's seventh state of operation. The company is "looking ahead to aggressive growth within the state [Virginia] and in its current operating areas of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South and North Carolina," the company said.

Publix was recently recognized as one of Fortune magazine's "Top 100 Best Companies to Work For." The company has made the list the past 19 years.

PHOTO of Publix store courtesy of company