SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - Publix supermarkets are going on a shopping spree, buying up property across Florida.
The Herald-Tribune of Sarasota (http://bit.ly/1CqSrZd ) reports the Lakeland-based grocery chain purchased $86 million for six shopping centers in southwest Florida over the past year. Publix also has earmarked $1.3 billion to buy more property, build new stores and renovated others.
The company operates 1,098 stores. Company spokesman Brian West says Publix is "very fortunate to be in good financial health" which allows them to invest in real estate.
Records show that over the past few weeks, the company has spent nearly $60 million on centers where it has stores in Tampa, Fort Myers and Miami. West says the company is "always considering the opportunities" that will help serve customers.
Publix had $30.6 billion in sales last year.
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Information from: Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune, http://www.heraldtribune.com
