LAKELAND, Fla. – Counting items in the express lane may soon be a thing of the past as Publix is ditching its long-standing 10-item cap in express checkout lanes.
The Lakeland, Florida-based grocery giant confirmed it recently updated its express lane process, giving associates more flexibility in managing customer flow rather than enforcing a hard item limit.
“To better serve our customers and improve checkout efficiency, we recently updated our express lane process to provide associates with greater flexibility in managing customer flow. Rather than adhering to a specific item limit, our focus is on reducing wait times and ensuring customers can be served as efficiently as possible.”
Publix spokesperson
Publix did not clarify whether the change applies to self-checkout lanes, which have been rapidly expanding across its store locations in recent years.
The move comes as Publix navigates a challenging economic climate. The company reported second-quarter sales of $15.7 billion — up just 1% from $15.6 billion a year earlier — with comparable-store sales dipping 0.5% for the quarter.
Publix did not say when the policy took effect or whether it applies to all of its more than 1,400 stores across eight southeastern states.