Publix Supermarket Prepping Openly

I went to Publix this morning to buy some groceries, and a few preps, and when checking out, I noticed that the girl at the checkout pulled out an antibacterial wipe and wiped her hands before and after our transaction.

Then, as I was leaving, I looked at the other register areas, and all of the other checkers were doing the same thing.

I about had a cow when I saw this!

What a BOLD move!  The implications for these actions are immense:

-- They care about the health of their employees (or, they want it to look that way)

-- They care about the health of the general public (or, they want it look that way)

-- They are getting pressure about prepping from somewhere, perhaps from upper management, (or perhaps it's just something our particular store manager decided to do)

-- If they are thinking about BF, then perhaps they will stockpile extra stuff on our behalf.

-- As more businesses follow suit, WE CAN COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and talk openly about BF with other people, without appearing kooky.

-- The person checking out your groceries is less likely to look at you funny when you purchase large quantities of strange items, you know, like those crazy survivalists might buy.

-- Publix is now ONE step away from having their employees wear protective masks. Once we get used to the hand-wiping, it would be a smaller step in the eyes of their customers.

HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED A GROCERY CHAIN DOING THIS, OR A PUBLIX STORE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ????

Stock more - and/or increase the prices!

Be watchful of the shopping carts once H5N1 is in the US.  I've noticed birds perched on the carts when they are in the outside corral.  Also, bird poop on the carts.  They need to come up with a system that once a person places their groceries inside there car the cart goes back into the store.  

There was a talk radio show I was listening to earlier this week and they were talking about unsanitary surfaces.  Grocery store carts were the #1 dirtiest object containing the most bacterial than any other item tested... and they tested all kinds of stuff.  If you carry antibacterial wipes with you, you may want to give the cart handle a good going over if this thing actually starts to happen..... and don't let your toddlers chew on them... yuk!

When I go to the store I'm always checking out the other shoppers to see
if perhaps they are "preppers" but really haven't seen any until I went to
Costco last week. A man had a HUGE amount of food and supplies and
the cashier asked who all the food was for. He said "me". I wanted to ask
him about it but I was on the other side of the line. I will bring wipes with
me next time for the carts. Good advice.

stormriderfla  , here is some information

Publix Purchases Generators as Part of Business Recovery Plan

LAKELAND, Fla., March 13, 2006 – Publix Super Markets plans to install 400 stationary and mobile generators to hurricane-prone store locations as well as 175 quick-connecting docking stations to stores in lower-probability hurricane areas.

The installs, currently in progress, focus on stores in the southeast and southwest coasts of Florida, the Florida panhandle, coastal Georgia and South Carolina and will occur in two waves: Wave one, to be completed by July 1, 2006, encompasses approximately 1/3 of the generators, and wave two is anticipated to conclude in July 2007. This massive generator project is expected to protect Publix stores in approximately 575 communities at an estimated investment of $100 million.  

"The time to reinvest in our communities is now," said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. "Our customers depend on Publix to be open and operational directly following a hurricane. While we all know we should be prepared for the first 72 hours following a storm, the ability to provide fundamental, basic needs to the communities we serve is essential. We are grateful to our partners in Miami-Dade County for their commitment to the citizens and communities of Miami-Dade in their efforts to expedite the permitting process for the generators. In the upcoming weeks, we will be working to secure similar commitments from our partners in other municipal and county government offices. Our ability to meet our projected timelines is dependent upon our partners in local government."

"The private sector is an important element of Florida's State Emergency Response Team, and I applaud Publix's leadership as we work to instill a 'culture of preparedness' in Florida," said Governor Jeb Bush. "As we prepare for the 2006 Hurricane Season, I urge local officials across Florida to expedite permitting processes for generators, enabling businesses to better serve the needs of their customers while alleviating dependence on state and federal resources."

The permanent generators are 500 kW generators supplied by PowerSecure. They have automated turn-on sensors and contain a double-lined fuel tank, with a bi-fuel option, that holds 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The mobile generators are trailer mounted and will be transported by Publix tractors. They have a self-contained, double-lined fuel tank that holds 860 gallons of diesel fuel. Publix stores in lower-probability hurricane areas will be pre-wired with quick-connects.

I always tell them I have 4 kids what do you expect... 

I'm embarrased to admit this. I went to Costco yesterday to help a friend with first time preps. Anyway, you know how they have samples of stuff to eat? After the second sample, I realized that I had been pushing the cart and then the food sample. Yuck!!!!!!! No more samples for me at the stores.

 

Muskrat wrote: I always tell them I have 4 kids what do you expect...

 

Beth wrote: Cashier said "Don't tell me - its for a Bed and Breakfast?  I just said "youve guessed".

RBARNES55 wrote: I tell people it for a block party No one says anything about me buying a case of soup At time.  I t s kind of creepy the way none of the staff say anything about it .  I asked how come the sale is still on and the comment was they have a surplus of this at the warehouse.

 

Amethyst wrote: Hmm.  If someone asked me and they were a total stranger, I'd just say it was for a planned camping trip later this spring or something.  I personally wouldn't say "the bird flu."

 

Why not just tell them it's for the bird flu?

 

It makes sense that the store would have a surplus. 

I believe grocery store chain executives are already very aware of bird flu and the threat of a pandemic. When the government is saying to stock up on powered milk and tuna I am sure that perks up their ears. Just like everything else it will probably take some time to adjust their inventories and suppliers but within the next couple of months you will be seeing "stock up specials" openly advertised.

I was at my favorite stock up store today (Aldi's), two people had overflowing grocery carts but I know they were not prepping, just the next two weeks worth of groceries. I know there are millions of others like them who will have  a week or two worth of grocerys on hand but will continue to be oblivious to what is going on around them.

Publix here has added masks to their first aid section for the first time. Not
N95, just standard dust-type health masks, but interesting to see
nontheless. Full range of gloves as well.

To: Tansau, Kirby.
I was at a local Walgreens, and a local Safeway today doing prep.
Both of them were now stocking masks (particulate, not N95 that I could see), and gloves.

So maybe they are getting inquiries from customers about this?

I think that as more and more businesses start to deal with this thing openly, it will become much easier for us to talk to others about it.

I don't think Publix is prepping for the flu.  Hurricanes have had serious effects on Floridians and Publix is installing generators for hurricanes, not the flu.   My friends who have done nothing about BF prepping, do a good deal of hurricane prepping.

I didn't know you could get gloves at Costco I will go there this friday nite. I hope there is still some left.

You guys might want to read the following analysis by the food industry:

Amethyst wrote: Femvet wrote: You guys might want to read the following analysis by the food industry:   www.amrresearch.com-avianflu-H5N1PotentialImpact.pdf     I can't get to that link for some reason, nor can I find anything about avian flu on the main site.  Do you have another link?

www.amrresearch.com/avianflu/H5N1PotentialImpact.pdf

I changed the dashes to slashes and it works. This is an excellent article outlining the grocery execs where thinking last year! MUST READ!!

I still can't get to it.  I have the latest and greatest version of Adobe Acrobat, too.

I am also in the central florida area and haven't noticed the clerks with wipes yet - what part of town is that Publix?

nothing like that yet in orlando area(clerks and carts with wipes) and it's nothing but a sneeze-fest here with all the pollen!
have noticed alot more "buy one, get one free" items that fall in the prepping category.

Regarding the above URL (pertaining to the Food Industry), under the heading of Product Suppliers, and on page 24 of the document, under Item 4- "When the trigger point hits, have proceedures developed to greatly restrict the amount of product that a customer can draw from the warehouse."  Translation>Rationing?

It is logical to expect rashing.  Supplies will only go so far when TSHIF.  This is exactly and precisely why we are all prepping now..before that occurs.  Get it while the getting is good. 

I picked up more disinfectant wipes today, myself.  Haven't noticed clerks using them and not on carts, but I did notice that our grocery store was stocked with ecomony size (50 count) toilet paper today.  I've never seen that before.  Sales on can goods are still going on but not as much now.  More towards fresh foods..including turkey and chicken..not a surprise. 

Peace. 

   I have noticed the prices at wal mart for the soups have gone up by thirty cents, for the big cans. Yes I have noticed on certain items.