Sales and earnings on the rise at Publix

Publix continues to demonstrate that its customers indeed find that shopping there is a pleasure, judging by the grocery chain's first quarter results.

Publix’s sales for the first quarter of 2015 were $8.3 billion, a 6.8% increase from last year’s $7.8 billion. Same store sales increased 5.3%. Net earnings for the first quarter of 2015 were $548.9 million, compared to $493.7 million in 2014, an increase of 11.2%. Earnings per share for the first quarter increased to $0.71 for 2015, up from $0.63 per share in 2014. T

“I’m delighted we had another significant increase in our stock price,” said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw. “I want to thank our associates for delivering premier customer service that makes shopping a pleasure.”

Publix is privately owned and operated by its 175,500 employees, with 2014 sales of $30.6 billion. Currently Publix has 1,101 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and North Carolina.

The company has been named one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America” for 18 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.