9 Foods Floridians Started Buying Because of Publix
Publix’s Key lime pie recipe hasn’t changed since the pie debuted at the first Publix Danish Bakery.
It’s the kind of thing Floridians try once and keep buying.
Here are the foods Floridians started buying because of Publix.
1. Cuban Bread
Publix’s bakery page names Cuban bread among the scratch-made breads and rolls it lists.
Many shoppers first met a Cuban loaf in a Publix bakery.
In 2021, Tampa’s La Segunda Bakery was bringing its Cuban bread to select Publix locations.
If you’ve picked up a loaf at Publix, you’ve held bread with a wartime past.
Cubans turned the round loaf into a long, thin loaf during a flour shortage in their war for independence.
In Tampa, palmetto leaves lie flat on top of the bread while it bakes.
One Ybor City bakery, Ferlita’s La Joven Francesa, made about 35,000 loaves of bread a week.
2. Key Lime Pie
Publix’s Key lime pie recipe has stayed the same since the pie debuted at the opening of the first Publix Danish Bakery in 1957.
That’s almost 70 years.
If you’ve had a slice, you’ve tasted Key lime juice and sweetened condensed milk.
Whipped cream and toasted almonds finish it.
The pie has also won several awards at the American Pie Council’s National Pie Championships, in both the 6-inch and 9-inch categories.
3. Chantilly Cake
Publix describes its Chantilly Cake as vanilla almond cake layered with raspberry filling and mascarpone Chantilly dessert cream.
On top, you’ll find glazed berries and a whipped vanilla topping.
It’s the classic behind its newer Chantilly-inspired treats.
Those include Chantilly Berry Vanilla Cupcakes, Chantilly Berry Tres Leches and Chantilly-Style Croissants.
If you’re choosing a cake for a crowd, many shoppers reach for a Chantilly Cake.
4. Custom Cakes
If you’re designing a Publix cake online, you can start with classic flavors including vanilla, chocolate and marble, as well as carrot and red velvet.
Chocolate is a popular choice, especially for birthday cakes, according to the Publix cake page.
From there, the icing and the size are up to you.
Publix Custom Cake Basics
Icing choices include buttercream, fudge, cream cheese and whipped, with buttercream a popular choice.
The round cake serves about 8.
For larger gatherings, Publix recommends a sheet cake.
Your message can run up to 50 characters.
Submit your order online and the cake is ready for in-store pickup the next day.
5. Pub Subs
Publix’s first custom sub shop and sandwich menu board debuted in Marietta, Georgia, in 1992.
The first one was in Georgia.
In February 2025, Publix added a soft white sub roll to the lineup.
The roll is baked fresh in-store and will be available year-round at your nearest Publix.
If you order a sub online, the bread choices are white, whole wheat and Italian Five Grain.
Cheese choices include American, Swiss, provolone, cheddar, Muenster and Chao Vegan.
6. Chicken Tenders
Publix hand-breads its chicken tenders twice, then deep fries them to a golden brown.
Publix’s sub rolls are baked every day in ovens located in the Bakery.
Publix’s February 2025 newsroom story names the Chicken Tender sub as its best-selling sub.
If you order the Chicken Tender Sub online, Publix will even toast it for you.
In 2023, Publix added four signature Chicken Tender Subs: Parmesan, Buffalo, Bacon Ranch, and Sweet and Spicy.
If you ask around, many shoppers will say tenders got them ordering from the Publix deli.
If you’re feeding a crowd, Publix deli platters, including chicken tender platters, come in four sizes, and the large serves about 28 guests.
7. Chicken Wings
Publix’s deli sells wings bone-in or boneless, and breaded or unbreaded.
You can leave them plain, go Hot & Spicy, or have them tossed in your favorite sauce.
The sauces include Caribbean Jerk, Garlic Parmesan, Korean Barbecue, Spicy Gold, Sweet Home Sriracha, and mild or hot Buffalo.
If you’re ordering for a party, wings also come on Publix deli platters.
Psst! How much do you know about supermarket history? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Grocery Aisle Trivia
Answer these questions on supermarket and food history. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Before he introduced his first official shopping cart in 1937, Oklahoma grocer Sylvan Goldman built a prototype from what?
8. Ice Cream
If you've scooped Publix ice cream, many of its flavors started at the Lakeland Dairy Plant in Lakeland, Florida.
In February 2026, Publix's limited-edition lineup had 12 half-gallon flavors, from Buckeyes & Fudge to The S'more the Merrier.
If you prefer a pint, seven flavors joined them, including Chantilly Cake, Passion Fruit Cheesecake and Root Beer Float.
That's 19 flavors in all.
Many shoppers wait for limited flavors to show up.
9. Steamed Seafood
Publix offers a free seasoning and steaming service at its seafood department.
You can have a wide variety of fresh finfish and shellfish from the cases steamed, from salmon to snow crab.
You pick from Old Bay, Cajun, lemon pepper or lemon herb seasoning.
Some Publix stores may offer more seasoning options.
Publix's seafood page also lists shrimp, crab, scallops and handmade sushi.
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