Welcome to Publix Super Markets, Inc. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect the information you share with us through our websites, mobile applications, and other online and offline services (collectively, the “Services”). We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and providing you with control over your personal information. By using our Services, you agree to our Terms of Use and this Privacy Policy.
How We Collect Information
Publix gathers information through various channels to enhance your experience and our services. This includes direct collection from you, both online and in-store, information from third-party sources and social media platforms, and by combining data from different sources to create a more comprehensive understanding.
Categories of Information We Collect
We collect a range of personal information to operate our business effectively. This encompasses:
- Identifiers: Such as your name, address, email, phone number, IP address, device identifiers, and information associated with cookies and similar technologies.
- Financial Information: Including payment card details.
- Health and Insurance Information: Specifically, prescription details for pharmacy customers, handled in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- Demographic Information: Like your age and gender.
- Transactional Information: Records of your purchases, preferences, selected offers, and content accessed via the Services.
- Internet or Other Electronic Network Activity: Details on how you interact with our Services, including mouse and keyboard activity, browser information, and your online activities on other services.
- Location Information: Derived from your device or browser settings, or provided by you, to offer location-based services and deals.
- Communications: Records of your interactions with our customer care teams for quality assurance and training.
- Video Recordings: In public areas for security, safety, and operational purposes.
- Survey Responses: Your feedback through surveys.
- Inferences: Preferences or characteristics derived from collected information.
For a detailed explanation of each category, please refer to the original policy.
Information Collected Directly From You
While some Services can be used anonymously, certain features may require you to provide personal information. This could include registering an account, providing identification, or sharing details like your name, address, email, phone number, credit card information, household details, demographics, and interests. Choosing not to provide certain information may limit your access to specific features or transactions. When you shop in-store or online, we may collect information about your purchases, especially when using a payment card, the Publix App, or a registered number at checkout.
If you provide a mobile telephone number, you consent to receive calls and SMS/text messages for various purposes, including advertising, and agree to notify us promptly of any changes to your number. You also agree to indemnify us for any claims arising from your failure to notify us of number changes. Standard carrier rates and fees may apply.
Information Collected From Other Sources
We may supplement the information we collect with data from third parties. This can include updating records, identifying new customers, preventing fraud, and information from social media platforms where you interact with us. The data received from these sources depends on your privacy settings with those platforms.
Information Collected Automatically
When you use our Services, we or third parties may employ cookies and similar technologies to gather data about your interactions. This helps us personalize your experience, improve services, support marketing campaigns, and understand customer behavior. Information collected may include technical data like your IP address, device and browser type, operating system, referring website, and content viewed. For more details, please see the “Cookies, Tracking Technologies and Interest-Based Advertising” section.
Information Collected From Mobile Devices
Our mobile applications and Services may collect information such as your device type, device identifier, IP address, operating system, browser, usage patterns, and location data. We may request access to your device’s camera and photo files to enable features like barcode scanning and image capture for shopping lists or transactions. Denying permission may limit the functionality of certain features.
Location Information
Our mobile applications and websites may collect precise device location data with your permission, using technologies like GPS and Wi-Fi. This enables us to provide location-based services, content, and offers, such as nearby store locations and deals. You can manage location permissions through your device settings. Please note that adjusting these settings may not entirely prevent the development of location information by other parties.
Protected Health Information (PHI)
Information related to your pharmacy activities, including your Protected Health Information (PHI), is handled in accordance with our Publix Pharmacy Notice of Privacy Practices, adhering to HIPAA regulations.
Information You Give Us About Others
If you provide us with information about other individuals, such as a gift recipient’s name and address, we will use this information solely for the specific purpose you intended.
Why We Collect Your Information
We utilize the information we collect for various purposes, permitted by law, including:
- Fulfilling product, program, and service requests.
- Processing purchases, orders, refunds, and exchanges.
- Responding to inquiries and offering relevant products and services.
- Conducting surveys, research, and market studies.
- Operating, evaluating, and enhancing our business operations.
- Preventing and detecting fraud.
- Delivering personalized marketing communications, special offers, and advertisements, including targeted ads based on your online activity.
- Creating and delivering personalized content and advertising, potentially based on precise location data.
- Administering your Publix or GreenWise Markets accounts.
- Conducting promotional activities and contests.
- Communicating about your accounts and purchases.
- Protecting the rights and safety of you, us, and others.
- Complying with legal requirements, contractual obligations, and our policies.
We may combine information from different sources and may use and disclose non-personal, aggregated demographic information without restriction.
How We May Disclose Your Information
We may share the categories of personal information we collect in the following situations:
- With business partners and advertisers for marketing and advertising purposes. We do not sell or rent your personal information for monetary compensation.
- With service providers who perform functions on our behalf, such as hosting, payment processing, and order fulfillment. These vendors are provided only with the information necessary to perform their tasks.
- Anonymized information shared with third parties after it has been altered or combined to prevent individual identification.
- When legally required by law, court order, subpoena, or regulatory requirements.
- If we believe disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law, operate the Services, protect rights and safety, prevent harm, or in connection with an investigation of unlawful activity.
- With our subsidiaries and affiliates, subject to this Policy.
- In connection with the potential or actual sale or transfer of some or all of our business assets.
- With your consent or as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which the information was collected.
We strive to limit sharing in accordance with your choices and applicable law.
Public Information
Information you post on public forums within our Services may be publicly available and searchable by search engines. We do not control how third parties may use this information. Please exercise caution when posting personal information.
Your Options Regarding Your Information
You have choices concerning the information we collect, how it’s used and disclosed, and how we communicate with you. You can:
- Opt-out of marketing or promotional communications.
- Update and correct your information.
- Request the cancellation of your account or that we no longer use your information to provide services.
To exercise these choices, you can follow opt-out instructions in marketing communications, log in to your Publix Account at https://www.publix.com/myaccount/, modify settings in the area where you signed up for a program, call us at 800-242-1227, or contact us online. Please note that opting out of one type of communication may not affect others unless you exercise another option. Publix or its vendors may retain your information for business purposes, such as backups and legal requirements, even if you request it no longer be used for service provision.
Pharmacy customers have rights regarding PHI under HIPAA, as detailed in the Pharmacy Notice of Privacy Practices. Virginia residents have additional privacy rights, which can be found in the Virginia Privacy Notice.
Cookies, Tracking Technologies, and Interest-Based Advertising
By using our Services, you consent to the use of cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies, including those operated by third parties. These technologies help us customize your experience, improve services, understand customer interests, and troubleshoot issues. Most web browsers accept cookies by default, but you can disable this feature through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality and personalization of some Services. You can learn more about choices regarding online advertising at http://www.aboutads.info/choices/. We also use technologies to track engagement with our content and advertising effectiveness. Google Analytics is one service we use to understand Service usage; learn more at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. Our digital properties do not respond to “do not track” requests. You can opt out of interest-based advertising from participating providers at www.aboutads.info/choices/.
Third-Party Content and Activities
Our Services may link to or embed content from third parties. Their information practices may differ from ours. We encourage you to consult the privacy policies of any third party whose content you access through our Services, as we do not control the information they collect, use, or share. When your browser obtains integrated content directly from third-party servers, those third parties may collect information as if you visited their sites directly. Some third parties may use tracking technologies to monitor your online activities across various websites and services.
Security
Publix employs administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the information collected via the Services. However, no system is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute data security. We are not responsible for the security of information transmitted over networks we do not control. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your username and password. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account or require a password change if security is compromised. Legally required disclosures of a personal information compromise will be made, potentially via email or by conspicuous posting on the Services.
Protecting Children’s Privacy
We do not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information without consent, please contact us.
International Data Transfers and Use
Our Services are controlled and operated from the United States. Information you provide may be stored, processed, and accessed in countries that may not offer the same level of data protection as your residence. We will handle your personal information in accordance with this Policy regardless of its storage location.
Contacting Us
For any questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or to update your information or preferences, please contact us.
