Have you ever stood in line at the grocery store with just a stick of butter, a roll of paper towels or maybe just a bottle of soda? You're in a rush to get where you need to go, but somehow there's only one cash register open, and everyone in front of you has shopping carts filled to the brim.
That's the beauty of the express lane. The limit on the number of items helps speed the process along. Only a few items and in a hurry? Head to express checkout. Doing the grocery haul for the month? Wait in the regular checkout lane.
If you ever find yourself at a Publix and are pressed for time, well, good luck. The grocery store chain is making changes to its express checkout lane. Here's what to know.
What is the express lane policy at Publix?
It used to be 10 items or fewer. Now, there is no
limit on the number of items allowed in the express lane.
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Other popular grocery chains in the South still have express-lane item limits. At Kroger and Food City, the limit is 15 items.
"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," the company said in a statement to USA TODAY. "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."
The company also said it is in the process of rolling out the change to all of its locations. A Publix spokesperson contacted by email did not immediately respond when asked when the change would be implemented at Tennessee locations.
Reactions to new express lane policy
Publix customers appear to be split on the new policy and whether it is a good idea. In a Facebook group called "Publix Community: Where Shopping Is Almost Always a Pleasure," customers discussed the change to the express lane.
"No reason to give customers who are buying the fewest items preferential treatment," one person commented.
"It's just another lane like the rest," another commenter wrote. "Might as well take the express off."
In the Facebook group "Publix Employees Current and Past," more people appeared to oppose the new express lane policy.
"Customers with just a few items don't want to wait behind a full cart of groceries! They want to pay and go, and they shouldn't have to wait!" a commenter said.
"Keep the express lane, make sure cashiers enforce 10 items or fewer, and stop with the nonsense," another person commented.
Publix locations in Tennessee
Publix, a Florida-based company, is one of the most prominent grocery store chains in the Southeast. Publix operates locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The first Publix location opened Sept. 6, 1930, in Winter Haven, Florida. At the time, it was known as Publix Food Store.
Publix expanded into Tennessee in 2002. It was the fifth state in which the grocery chain opened stores. The first two Tennessee locations were in Franklin and Hermitage.
Here are the locations statewide:
- 11656 Parkside Drive, Knoxville Tennessee
- 2010 Town center Blvd., Knoxville, Tennessee
- 2429 University Commons Way, Knoxville, Tennessee
- 13123 Kingston Pike, Farragut, Tennessee
- 750 Winnfield Dunn Parkway Ste. 100, Sevierville, Tennessee
- 198 Foothills Mall, Maryville, Tennessee
- 453 Highway 76, White House, Tennessee
- 460 Long Hollow Pike, Goodlettsville, Tennessee
- 7014 City Center Way, Fairview Tennessee
- 7344 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, Tennessee
- 110 Indian Lake Blvd., Hendersonville, Tennessee
- 1265 Interstate Drive Ste. 111, Cookeville, Tennessee
- 2321 E. Andrew Johnson Highway, Greeneville, Tennessee
- 2555 Boones Creek Road, Johnson City, Tennessee
- 2656 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- 509 N. State of Franklin Road Ste. 20, Johnson City, Tennessee
- 1771 Madison St., Clarksville, Tennessee
- 920 Highway 76, Clarksville, Tennessee
- 1490 Tiny Town Road, Clarksville, Tennessee
- 2300 Trenton Road, Clarksville, Tennessee
- 2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Franklin, Tennessee
- 3525 Murfreesboro Pike, Antioch, Tennessee
- 4670 Lebanon Pike, Hermitage, Tennessee
- 1703 W. Main St., Lebanon, Tennessee
- 11207 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
- 665 S. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
- 8105 Moores Lane, Brentwood, Tennessee
- 10638 Concord Road, Brentwood, Tennessee
- 101 Creekside Crossing, Brentwood, Tennessee
- 1111 Gallatin Ave., Nashville, Tennessee
- 1010 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee
- 7604 Highway 70 S., Nashville, Tennessee
- 8028 Highway 100, Nashville, Tennessee
- 2223 8th Ave. S., Nashville, Tennessee
- 2324 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
- 4324 Harding Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
- 6614 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
- 15544 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee
Afton Pratt covers trending news for The Knoxville News Sentinel and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Publix is changing its express lanes. Will Tennessee stores follow?
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