Publix ditches longtime checkout lane rule in major change for shoppers

Publix is changing how customers are directed to express checkout lanes by dropping the longtime “10 items or less” rule. The Florida supermarket chain replaced signs that specified the item limit with ones that simply say “express,” according to reports cited in the article. A company spokesperson told Fox News Digital the update is meant to improve checkout efficiency by giving associates more flexibility to manage customer flow and reduce wait times. The policy reportedly still keeps express lanes, but no longer uses a fixed number to determine eligibility. Publix also operates self-checkout stations and runs more than 1,400 stores across eight Southeastern states. It was not immediately clear when the change took effect or whether it applies everywhere.