Publix will test curbside pickup service in the Tampa area

Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets will test curbside pickup service for customers who order online at two of its stores near Tampa. Third-party service provider Instacart already has helped Publix expand its grocery delivery service in recent years.

But while customers pay a fee to Instacart for home delivery, Publix is testing curbside pickup for online customers as a free service. The grocery company plans to launch the curbside pickup service at Publix supermarkets in the Atlanta area by year-end. [Orlando Sentinel] – Mike Seemuth