The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • S6

By Pamela A. Keene For Publix Super Markets uava paste, fresh herbs and spices, plantains, thin-sliced beef and tres leche these are just a few of the international foods in demand by diverse Publix customers. in our stores reflect the communities we said Brent Elkins, store manager at the Publix at Northeast Plaza on Buford Highway. have many Latin- American customers and we strive to meet their grocery needs, as we do with all our he said. Elkins said two-thirds of the associates at his store speak Spanish.

good for business. Census data from 2000 showed that nearly 375,000 people of Latin-American descent live in greater Atlanta a 300 percent increase over the past decade. important to serve our Elkins said. we stock items accustomed to buying, they will shop somewhere else, so we make it a point to ensure that we listen to them and provide the foods that may be hard to get in other Greg Galvin, manager of the Publix Plaza store on Norcross-Tucker Road agrees. want to stay competitive by providing the products our customers he said.

His store has a diverse customer base, comprised of African-Americans, Indians, Asians and Latin-Americans. The store is perhaps one of the most diverse in the Atlanta division. our associates, we speak at least six or seven different languages Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese he said. there are language issues at other (Publix) locations, we frequently get calls to help with Galvin works with customers to provide the products accustomed to using. do our best to serve our he said.

customer base is different at many of our stores; our job to match our needs with our AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT BARRY WILLIAMS Special Cashier Miriam Njoroge, center, entertains children during Holiday Fest at the Publix store at Northeast Plaza on Buford Highway, which serves a diverse customer base. Embracing diversity To serve customers, stores stock shelves with familiar foods RXPLX1219OS6 PUBLIX ANNIVERSARY Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002 Page 6 Zone.