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Publix Plans Hispanic Grocery Stores in Miami-Dade County, Fla.

Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Jaclyn Giovis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Mar. 3--Publix, a Lakeland-based supermarket chain, is bringing mas sabor -- more flavor -- to South Florida.

The company announced plans Thursday to open two additional Hispanic grocery stores under the Publix Sabor format in Miami-Dade County. Plans are to renovate an existing grocery store at 8341 Flagler Street into a Publix Sabor design and will build a new one within the Greater Miami area, said spokeswoman Anne Hendricks.

Publix Sabor was a themed concept the company introduced last March to meet the shopping demands of the Latinos and Islanders in Florida. Companywide, Publix has two other Publix Sabor locations, one at 1585 West 49th St. in Hialeah and another in Kissimmee; both were existing stores converted to the Hispanic concept store format.

Hendricks could not provide details of when the construction projects are expected to move forward, but noted that the Flagler Street store would remain open during the conversion.

"We're just answering the call of our customers," Hendricks said. "We're able to do this as a complement to traditional Publix stores."

Like the existing Publix Sabor locations, the new supermarkets will feature an expanded deli and hot foods area, with Hispanic cuisine favorites such as roast pork, beans and rice, and plantains, as well as a juice and nectar bar where shoppers can order tropical drinks made from fresh mangos, papayas and coconuts. In addition, the Publix Sabor locations have sit-down cafés that offer pressed sandwiches, cafés con leche (coffee with milk) and sweets such as churros.

Furthermore, the stores will have a fragrance and accessories boutique where shoppers can find a variety of designer perfumes, skin care products, fashion handbags and jewelry items.

While the grocer does not have Publix Sabor stores planned for Broward or Palm Beach counties, company officials will be evaluating the new and existing locations as prototypes for further expansion, Hendricks said.

Meanwhile, the new and existing locations "can be destination locations" for shoppers who are looking for specific items that can't be found in their local Publix store, she said.

And some traditional Publix stores are getting a taste of what Publix Sabor has to offer, Hendricks said, noting some Sabor amenities have made their way into traditional store locations.

Nine Publix grocery stores, for example, have added fragrance and accessories counters into their stores while a few others have expanded café areas. The goal is not about attracting ethnic shoppers, she said, but rather offering convenience to the shopping experience.

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Copyright (c) 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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