George W. Jenkins

First supermarket in Florida During the depression, Jenkins had purchased an orange grove. In 1940, he used that as collateral to secure a $70,000 bank loan to build the store of his dreams, the first supermarket in Florida. In the 1950s, bakeries and flower shops were added, delicatessens came in the 1960s, and in the 1990s, pharmacies and Presto!, a network of no-charge automated teller machines.

In the early 1990s, the chain began to expand outside of Florida, starting in Georgia. By 1995, there were over 500 supermarkets in three states with almost 100,000 employees and sales of $9.4 billion. Full-time workers were granted capital stock in the company and shared the store's profits on a quarterly basis. These benefits were eventually expanded to part-timers who worked at least 1,000 hours annually. The employee-ownership structure, organizational culture, and employee benefits made the company one of the best places to work for in the United States. according to outlets such as Fortune and Forbes.

Personal life

Family Jenkins married Lee Savings in 1940. They had seven children. The couple divorced in 1974. Jenkins died in 1996 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center and was buried in Oak Hill Burial Park in Lakeland. He left his wealth to the George M. Jenkins Fund (charity) and his family, which continues to control the company. Florida Governor Lawton Chiles stated, "George made a tremendous contribution to our business climate, but perhaps more importantly, he was a true civic leader who had a deep dedication to improving our communities." In addition to local charities, the corporation supports five national campaigns: Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Children's Miracle Network, United Way of America, and Food for All.

Honors Jenkins received honorary doctorates from Florida Southern College in 1956, the University of Tampa in 1963, Stetson University in 1977, and Florida Institute of Technology in 1979. The article, "The Grocer the Girls All Love – George Jenkins, Lakeland, Florida" appeared in the October 16, 1954, issue of The Saturday Evening Post. George W. Jenkins High School in Lakeland was named in his honor in 1993. Jenkins received the Horatio Alger Award in 2007, and was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2009. The state of Florida named him a Great Floridian in 2011, and the Florida Independent Business Association named him a "Florida Business Legend" for September 2011.