Florida's favorite grocery store slammed for 'criminal' prices as customers protest 'ridiculous' cost of meat

dailymail.co.uk ^ | 01 Jan 2026 | MARTHA WILLIAMS

[V_TWIN]

Publix has long been considered Florida's favorite supermarket, but it seems customers are turning their backs on the grocery giant.

One frustrated shopper recently took to Reddit to air their grievances after picking up a prime tenderloin steak at a Publix store in Yulee, Florida.

A photo of the package showed the meat priced at a jaw-dropping $61.49 — or $49.99 per pound.

'This is criminal,' the customer wrote.

'You can get a full ribeye or tenderloin dinner with table bread, 2 sides and softdrinks in Florida at a Outback, texas roadhouse or Longhorn for $26 - $31,' one wrote.

'Publix is wildly overpriced,' someone else chimed in.

[pnz1]

I agree. There’s a Detweilers Market I’ve seen. I wish one was close to me.

[John S Mosby]

Kroger is unionized, and on a death spiral. A once great family run grocery chain from Ohio.

Publix is profit-sharing private company— employees are well compensated. Quality of the stores and presentation are all top notch. Drove Kroger out of FL.

And, uh, Aldi— picked up 400 former Winn-Dixie locations as well as the huge Jacksonville, FL refrigerated and other warehouse/railroad/shipping hub. Aldi owns Trader Joes. They are German— there’s Aldi Nord, and Aldi Sud. Perhaps overextended, but their main target is wally world and the mystery meat they sell (from mehico, unattributed).

[Texas resident]

Beef prices were also affected by the drought conditions. Ranchers had to cull their herds early. This reduced the supply of beef in general.
Supply and demand.

[John S Mosby]

Aldis all over Florida, now even more with the takeover of 400 Winn-Dixie properties. Winn-Dixie partnership majority holder/owners got old, and no succession in place. Sold out to Aldi.

Harris-Teeter is owned by Kroger, retaining it’s brand, labels and stores (mostly). HQ is in Matthews, NC (Charlotte). A lifebuoy to the failing unionized Kroger monstrosity. The interior of most Kroger stores are confusing arrays of display tables/coolers etc. Have knowledge of union thugs from Kroger beating up Food Lion employees (trying to unionize Food Lion more than what they have- butcher etc.)

Publix is a quality store and buys direct from ranchers, farms and local suppliers— are empowered to do so. The Publix model is one of profit-sharing employees who are retained as a result. Start out as a truck driver and become a millionaire in 20 years. Lots of them.

NC has: Ingles (Asheville), Food Lion (DelHaize Corp Belgium, owns it) all over, and Harris Teeter/Kroger. Krogers few and far between.

[Texas resident]

Kroger is unionized, and on a death spiral... Yes.

When we moved back to SE Texas, Kroger was the only game in town. Then HEB opened stores in the area.

Week to week purchases cost a lot less at the HEB stores.
Also I found out that the meat buyers for Kroger are based out of Ohio. HEB’s meat buyers are out of San Antonio.

Better meat and lower priced.

I picked up a couple of Wagu steaks last night (1 pound total) for about 12 bucks.

[John S Mosby]

Ah-— Texas. Texas bred and raised/harvested wagu, wow. Great price and product.

The Republic of Texas.