LAKELAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 2007--The Council for Sustainable Florida recognized Publix Super Markets with the Sustainable Large Business Best Practice Award at their ninth annual awards ceremony in Tallahassee, Fla.

The awards program is designed to recognize and honor the best efforts to create a more sustainable Florida. The Council received more than 40 entries for eight categories. Only two companies received this award.

"Our commitment to sustainable practices begins with associate involvement in conservation programs, including energy conservation, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation and hurricane preparedness and recovery," said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. "As a Florida-based retailer, we are focused on the sustainability of our state and protecting resources."

Specific programs included in the submission packet to the Council included:

-- Get into a Green Routine, a Publix program launched in 2002 to educate associates on energy conservation. Since launching, the company has succeeded in reducing electricity usage by an average of 7 percent overall and approximately 23 percent in new stores.

-- Publix generator program announced in 2006 to install 400 stationary and mobile generators to hurricane-prone store locations at an approximate investment of $100 million. Since submission to the Council, the generator program has been expanded to cover a total of 670 stores at an estimated investment of $175 million.

-- Publix reduce-and-reuse before recycling program, where plastic is re-used for the shipping of product. Recycling efforts in 2006, lead Publix to recycle more than 209,000 tons of cardboard and 7,600 tons of plastic.

To learn more about the Council or the awards, visit www.sustainableflorida.org.

Publix is privately owned and operated by its 144,000 employees, with 2006 sales of $21.7 billion. Currently Publix has 905 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has been named one of FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" for 10 consecutive years. In addition, Publix's dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized as tops in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. For more information, visit the company's Web site, www.publix.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Publix Super Markets

Publix Super Markets

Publix Super Markets, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 225,000 associates, currently operates over 1,260 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 24 consecutive years, we have been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, our dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business.

Green isn’t just our color. It’s our commitment. Our Publix mission challenges us to be responsible citizens in our communities. Part of that mission is to meet today’s needs while being mindful of what’s essential for tomorrow.

For more information, visit our website, corporate.publix.com.

More from Publix Super Markets