Publix has been drawn into a Justice Department investigation examining whether practices across the beef supply chain are contributing to unusually high US retail prices. The DOJ's Antitrust Division requested information from Publix and seven other major retailers: Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize USA, Costco and Amazon. Letters sent in July sought records on beef sales and retail prices, wholesale purchasing costs, profit margins, pricing strategies and the companies' analysis of beef-market trends. The requests do not accuse Publix or the other retailers of wrongdoing. Publix operates 1,442 stores, including 897 in Florida, and recorded $62.7 billion in sales during 2025. The inquiry comes as ground beef averaged about $6.89 per pound nationally in July, while the broader beef-and-veal category was 9.4% more expensive than a year earlier, according to data cited from Trading Economics. Publix reported $15.7 billion in second-quarter 2026 sales, but comparable-store sales fell 0.5%, with the company citing economic conditions affecting consumer spending. Supply constraints are also contributing to higher costs: USDA data put the US beef-cow herd at 28.5 million animals on July 1, down 1% from a year earlier, while the estimated 2026 calf crop declined 2%. The Trump administration has expanded access to lower-tariff beef imports and announced additional measures on Sept. 4 to support ranchers and expand meat-processing capacity. The DOJ inquiry could clarify how cattle shortages, processors, wholesale costs and supermarket margins each contribute to shoppers' beef bills.