Lakeland, Florida-based Publix Super Markets Inc. will sell its entire 14-unit PIX fuel & C-Store concept. Launched in Florida in 2001, all PIX locations are located adjacent to Publix-anchored shopping centers. Of the 14 locations, two were in Georgia, one in Alpharetta at Village Walk Shopping Center on Rucker Road, the other in Perry at the Paradise Shoppes of Perry on Perry Parkway. Publix operates one PIX in Franklin, Tennessee; the remaining eleven stations are all in Florida.
"Circle K Stores Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., will purchase 13 sites of which 11 are located in Florida and two in Georgia, and Max Arnold & Sons, LLC, a family-owned company located in Hopkinsville, KY that has been in operation for more than 60 years, will purchase the site located in Tennessee."
“The sale of PIX locations gives us the ability to remain passionately focused on our core business, our customers and the products and services we offer within our grocery retail environment" said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw.
As of now, there is is apparently no definitive date for the change in branding, but I'm told plans call for the changeover to occur no later than December 31.
Publix made the sale official today, and also informed the approximately 120 affected PIX associates, and will assist them in trying to secure employment comparable to their current positions within Publix.
Atlanta-based The Home Depot operates a handful of Home Depot Fuel stations adjacent to its stores in Tennessee and Georgia including one in Acworth on Cobb Parkway. First opened in 2006, the home improvement retailer said at the time it planned to open 300 fuel locations by 2010, but has since scaled back those plans to include no additional openings.
Cincinnati-based Kroger operates dozens of fuel centers in metro Atlanta, and recently got approval to add a fuel center to its Kroger Citi-Center location on Memorial Drive.