A Publix no less, a company valued at $50 billion, who is currently facing a federal class action for forcing hourly workers to work during breaks and off the clock, and who settled a separate lawsuit in 2000 after stealing $1.1 million in wages from its employees. No arrests made for any of these thousands of thefts, yet this guy is facing felony charges for stealing a few hundred dollars in product (actual cost not 'retail value').

A $1,000 theft is a felony, so, yes.