Florida is in the midst of hurricane season, and for many, that means it’s time for cakes.
“Hurricane Cakes,” to be specific.
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The long-time staple of Publix grocery stores across the state typically looks like hurricane graphics from the National Hurricane Center.
They sometimes come with short phrases written on them, such as “Go Away” or “Leave Florida Alone,” to poke fun at impending storms during hurricane season.
But following Hurricane Ian in 2022, Publix announced it would no longer sell Hurricane Cakes in its stores.
According to the company, the decision was made to avoid potentially downplaying natural disasters.
“We appreciate your reaching out regarding decorated cakes from our bakery departments. Our associates make every effort to support our customers during weather events.
Oftentimes, this includes finding ways to delight them with their favorite Publix items as they prepare for uncertainty. For these requests in particular, it is our company policy to not produce bakery cakes that would make light of a natural disaster.
We have sent communications to our stores reminding them of our policy. We regret if a store has not followed policy, and we are working to rectify the situation.”
Publix statement on Hurricane Cakes (2024)
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida in September 2022 as a Category 4 storm, causing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage and resulting in the deaths of over 100 people statewide.
In March 2023, the World Meteorological Organization decided to retire Ian from the list of future hurricane names due to the “death and destruction” wrought by the hurricane.
However, a recent petition was posted on Change.org, pushing for the Florida-based grocery chain to bring these Hurricane Cakes back.
“Once upon a time, Publix gave us something magical: Hurricane Cakes. Not just delicious — these cakes were edible morale boosters. A wink, a laugh, and a little comfort as we stocked up on bottled water and batteries.
For reasons unknown, Publix stopped making them. And frankly, we don’t care why — we just know they made hurricane prep a little brighter. They were a sweet reminder that even when the wind howls and the rain pours, folks across the Southeast keep their sense of humor.
We’re calling on Publix to bring back the Hurricane Cake — for the joy, the tradition, and the morale of the communities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Let’s make hurricane season just a little bit sweeter again."
Tim Lawler, "Bring Back Publix Hurricane Cakes!"
The petition is asking for 35,000 signatures, though no information is provided about what will happen if it manages to meet that quota.
Regardless, the petition managed to accrue over 29,000 signatures as of Tuesday evening.
News 6 has reached out to Publix for a statement regarding the petition and is awaiting a response.