<p><strong>Lakeland, FL</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Publix Super Markets is reporting successful numbers for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011. The company is revealing fourth quarter gains with sales for the 14-week period refelcting $7.2 billion, a 13.4 percent increase from last year’s 13- week period which was reported at $6.4 billion. The additional fourth quarter week in 2011 increased sales by 7.6 percent. Fourth quarter, comparable-store sales for 2011 increased 5.3 percent, according to a press release. Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 16.8 percent to $399.5 million while earnings per share increased to $0.51 from $0.44 per share in 2010.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> For the 53-week fiscal year which ended Dec. 31, 2011, Publix reported sales were $27.0 billion, a 7.3 percent increase from the 2010, 52-week year which reported $25.1 billion. Publix also reported that its stock price has increased to $22.40 per share from $20.20 per share.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “I’m pleased that our strong operating performance and improvements in the stock market resulted in an increase in our stock price,” said Publix CEO, Ed Crenshaw. “Our associate owners deserve the credit for these results as they continue to make us a leader in customer service.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
