ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Publix is doing away with a grocery store staple that’s been around for decades: the 10-item or less rule for its express lanes at checkout.

The Lakeland, Florida-based retailer is making the change to give its employees greater flexibility in managing checkout lines.

“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,” the company said in a statement to Atlanta News First.

Reports indicate that some stores have already seen the change, while others will see it this fall.

The company has not said how the new rules for express lanes differentiate them from the other lanes, nor has it said how shoppers with many items will be handled.

The grocer employs more than 260,000 people in 1,443 stores, including 219 in Georgia, according to its website.

Atlanta News First has reached out to Publix for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

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