UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 22, 2003
----------------
PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS, INC.
----------------------------------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Florida
---------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
0-981 59-0324412
----------------------- --------------------------------
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
3300 Airport Road
Lakeland, Florida 33811
--------------------------------------- ---------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(863) 688-1188
---------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Page 1 of 2 pages
Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure
---------------------------------------------------
On August 22, 2003, Publix Super Markets, Inc. issued a press release
stating that PublixDirect will close its online grocery shopping service. A copy
of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by
reference into this report.
PublixDirect, LLC, was formed on August 11, 2000 as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Publix to develop an online grocery shopping service. In September
2001, the online grocery shopping service began delivering orders to homes in
South Florida from its fulfillment center located in Pompano Beach, Florida. The
decision to close the online service resulted from a lack of growth in the
demand for this service and ongoing losses from operations. Publix could not
justify the continued investment in an operation that was not expected to become
profitable in the foreseeable future. Publix expects most of the sales generated
from this operation to transfer to its traditional supermarkets located in these
market areas.
As a result of the decision to close PublixDirect effective August 23,
2003, Publix expects to record a pre-tax charge of approximately $30 million
during the third quarter of 2003. This represents the impact of asset
impairments, operating lease obligations and remaining payroll obligations. The
expected impact of the closing on net earnings is approximately $18 million or
$.10 per share for the three month period ended September 27, 2003.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS, INC.
Dated: August 22, 2003 By: /s/ David P. Phillips
------------------------------------------
David P. Phillips, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Page 2 of 2 pages
Exhibit Index
-------------
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated August 22, 2003, of Publix Super Markets, Inc.