The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come. There’s a lot for grocers to like about Florida. It has a large and growing population. The state’s economy is on track to become a top 10 world economy, with a political climate that’s friendly to businesses. The weather is pretty swell, too. A few chains have sped after this opportunity. Sprouts Farmers Market, The Fresh Market and Aldi have all made themselves at home in the Sunshine State, while Florida-based Winn-Dixie recently relaunched its brand, full of optimism about its ability to win over shoppers even as it operates in the shadow of Publix, the 800-pound gorilla in the region. But for Kroger, Florida remains a Rubik’s Cube wrapped up in a padlocked steel chain. After decades of having a tiny presence in the state, the nation’s largest supermarket chain tried and failed to launch an e-commerce offensive via its Ocado-powered network of automated warehouses. More recently, the company’s Harris Teeter banner began outlining plans to expand into Florida, starting with the Jacksonville area. But according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the grocer recently nixed a plan to open up to 80 Harris Teeter locations in the state. The banner does intend to proceed with the Jacksonville location, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. As Kroger turns away from Florida, Publix has pushed north, deep into Kroger country. As new CEO Greg Foran cleans up Kroger’s operations, the company doesn’t need to launch another protracted turf war. But Kroger’s desire to eventually build a presence in Florida one way or another likely won’t go away. To take on the big guns of Walmart, Amazon and Costco, it needs to build scale