Publix maintains it is still in testing mode with its Pix convenience/gas store concept even after recently opening its thirteenth store.
Company spokesperson Shannon Patten told Central Florida News 13, "We're still trying out new concepts, different sizes, different product mixes to try to figure out what's the best bet for us."
Supermarket industry veteran Burt Flickinger III doesn't quibble that Publix may be tweaking what it is doing with Pix but he has no doubt the employee-owned chain is looking for Pix to be a growth engine for the company going forward.
Mr. Flickinger predicted that Publix would add 150 Pix stores over the next five years, giving cause for concern to its competition.
"It's going to be a very daunting challenge to try to stay alive as Publix gets better with their Pix stores," he told Central Florida News 13.
Discussion Questions: Where do you see Pix fitting into the Publix' go-to-market strategy? Do you see convenience stores as a bigger growth vehicle for the chain than its other alternative concepts, Publix Sabor and GreenWise Market?