Publix to invest $15 million in pharmacy expansion

Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets is planning to invest $15 million to expand its pharmacy distribution services.

According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, the chain, which operates more than 1,100 stores, applied for tax-exemption incentives with the Orange County Commission for a warehouse it plans to buy in Orlando, Fla. The warehouse would be renovated into a pharmacy distribution facility.

Publix expanding its pharmacy distribution services"If costs allow, our plan is to grow our pharmaceutical segment at facilities in the Orlando/Orange County area in order to meet the growing demand for this market segment at our retail stores in Florida and across the Southeast,” Publix said in application to the Commission.

Publix estimated that the new distribution facility would add 67 jobs, which would include pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other positions.

Publix has had consistent earnings growth in recent years, reporting total sales of $8.3 billion for the first quarter of 2015, a 6.8% increase from the first quarter of 2014. Comparable store sales for the quarter also grew 5.3% and net earnings soared 11.2% to $548.9 million.

While Publix does not release sales and earnings data for its pharmacies, the company did say that it has filled more than 50 million free prescriptions over the past eight years. Among the free medications that Publix provides are amlodipine, metformin, lisinopril, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and penicillin.