A Grocery Store Chain Customers Say Is 'Cheaper Than Walmart' Is Opening More Locations

As a favorite grocery store chain for frugal shoppers, many customers claim that Publix is cheaper than Walmart. While the jury appears out on that, the success of the chain cannot be denied considering there are currently, as per corporate at Publix, 1,426 store locations. If that weren't enough, the store is slated to open five more in the Southern region. While that may be bad news for Walmart, even Costco has competitors consumers believe are cheaper but it still manages to earn its fair share of the market. So, how much Publix's expansion will hurt Walmart remains to be seen.

Publix, founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins in Florida, is among the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the U.S. Its retail sales grew to $59.7 billion in 2024, and it currently employs 260,000 people across the country. The company's continued expansion in a time of economic uncertainty certainly supports the idea that Publix could become a legitimate challenger to Walmart's rule over the grocery store industry in coming years.

As per a release by Publix, the brand new five stores are scheduled to launch throughout November 2025. Four of the five are launching in Florida, the birthplace of the beloved chain, with a fifth opening up in Tennessee. This caps off a successful year for the company, as 2025 has already seen the opening of well over a dozen other store locations across Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the cost of all food in the U.S. is projected to rise by 3% throughout 2025, before rising by 2.7% in 2026. Aside from avoiding the sneaky ways grocery stores trick consumers into spending more money, access to more grocery store outlets like Publix may help consumers ease some of the financial burden. According to the Lexington Herald Leader, Publix is favored by regular customers for its bakery items like key lime pie, buy-one-get-one deals that pop up every week, and its customer service. Though a comparison shop done by the Herald didn't reveal Publix to be cheaper than Walmart in most cases, customers still find the chain a relatively affordable option. And what it lacks in low pricing, it makes up for in freshness — customers don't seem to mind paying slightly more for Publix's high-quality meat and fish selection. Just keep in mind, no matter where you grocery shop, buying certain items at full price is always a waste of money.