Be careful what you beef about: Publix’s near-$50/lb prime cut goes viral
- Teresa Grosze
- Jan 4
- 2 min read
Publix just stirred up a storm with its regulars, and the internet’s not letting it slide. People are actually calling the prices “criminal”—and, honestly, when you see what they’re charging for meat, it’s kind of wild.
It all kicked off with a Reddit post. Someone snapped a shot of a 1.23-pound cut of organic prime tenderloin at Publix, and the price tag was eye-popping: $49.99 a pound, so over $61 for that one steak. The poster didn’t hold back—“What the hell, Publix?!” they wrote, and plenty of folks piled on.
Other shoppers jumped in, saying the same thing: why pay that much when you could just go out? “For that price I’m going to Longhorn and having someone cook it for me,” one person said. Another pointed out you could get a whole steak dinner—bread, sides, drinks—at Outback, Texas Roadhouse, or Longhorn for half what Publix is charging for raw meat.
And get this: the deal might’ve been even worse than it looked. Publix’s own website had a similar GreenWise organic tenderloin for over $70 a pound. Meanwhile, Dickson’s Farmstand Meats in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market—a place not known for bargains—was selling the same cut for $45.59 on New Year’s Day. ShopRite had prime tenderloin for $35.99 a pound, though not organic, but still, that’s a big gap.
It’s not just the beef, either. People are griping about everything from $10 jars of mayo to $20 for a can of nuts. Some say they’ve had enough and started shopping elsewhere. “Ingles or even Kroger has better selection,” one commenter wrote. “Whole Foods has a good butcher. Costco’s the best for prices, no question.” Another person admitted they only buy what’s on sale at Publix. “Other than that, they’re too expensive for me.”
A few folks came to Publix’s defense, though. They said the price makes sense for organic prime tenderloin, which is top-tier stuff you won’t find at most chain restaurants. “It’s both Prime and tenderloin. That’s a fair price. If you want cheaper, go for Choice grade,” one defender wrote. Another agreed, calling the price “pretty decent, actually.”
Publix isn’t exactly hurting for business. It’s the biggest grocery chain in Florida and Alabama, with nearly 900 stores in Florida alone and $59.7 billion in sales last year. The company started back in 1930, and now it has 260,000 employees.
People keep coming back for more than just groceries. Publix is all about top-notch customer service, and being employee-owned makes a difference. Their stores are clean, bright, and packed with fresh food—plus those cult-favorite Pub Subs. For a lot of folks, shopping at Publix feels like a community thing, not just another errand.
Their motto, “Where Shopping is a Pleasure,” really does sum it up. It’s not just a slogan—it’s the whole vibe, from the green-vested staff to the well-stocked aisles. But right now, at least when it comes to steak, it feels like some shoppers aren’t exactly feeling the pleasure.