This change is hitting Publix checkout lanes in NC. What shoppers should know

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A change is hitting the checkout lines at Publix stores.

The popular supermarket chain said it will no longer limit the number of items shoppers can bring into express lanes. The shift is coming to all Publix locations, and it’s likely to roll out in North Carolina stores around September.

“We recently updated our express lane process to provide associates with greater flexibility in managing customer flow,” Jared Glover, a spokesperson for Publix, told The News & Observer in a Monday, Aug. 17 email. “Rather than adhering to a specific item limit, our focus is on reducing wait times and ensuring customers can be served as efficiently as possible.”

Publix previously allowed up to 10 items in its express lanes. Though shoppers didn’t always stick to that rule, it often sped up the checkout line for people who were buying a few essentials, the Miami Herald reported.

Glover said the grocer is making the change to “better serve our customers and improve checkout efficiency.”

Publix is based in Florida and has more than 1,400 locations across the Southeast. Of the 63 stores in North Carolina, dozens are in the Raleigh and Charlotte areas, according to the chain’s website.

The supermarket is known for its iconic “pub subs,” which are sandwiches sold at its deli counter. Last year, the chain was named a fan favorite on several of USA Today 10Best’s top grocery store lists.

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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 7:00 AM with the headline “This change is hitting Publix checkout lanes in NC. What shoppers should know.”