U.S. CHAIN STORE TIMELINE
1776 - 1859
1776 Russia's Catherine the Great granted trading rights to the Russian-American Trading Co. (Alaska Commercial Co.)
1850's Shaws is founded as a small tea shop in Portland, ME.
Brockton Public Market is founded in Massachusetts.
1853 Treat & Edwards (Edwards Food Stores), a grocery and liquor wholesaler, is founded in Ohio.
1854 Dierbergs was founded as a general store in St. Louis, MO.

1859

 The Great American Tea Company (A & P) is founded in New York City.

1860 - 1869
1860 Hooley's is founded in Minnesota
1861 Albrecht Grocery Store, later to be named Acme Fresh Markets, is founded in Akron, OH.
1862  
1863 Jay C Food Store is founded in Seymour, IN.
1864  
1865  
1866  
1867 Delhaize Group was founded in Belgium.
Russian-American Trading Company is sold to 2 San Francisco merchants and renamed Alaska Commercial Co.
1868  
1869 Schwegmann's Grocery & Bar is opened in New Orleans, LA.

1870 - 1879
1870 Hartford and Gilman rename their company "The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company" (A & P) in honor of the first
      transcontinental railroad.
Schuette Stores is founded in St. Rose, IL.
1871 Hellman-Haas Grocery Co. (Smart & Final) is founded in Los Angeles.
1872 Child's Grocery Co. (Acme Markets) is founded in Pennsylvania.
Jones Brothers Tea Company (Grand Union) is founded in Scranton, PA.
Smith, Roundy & Co. (Roundy's) is founded in Milwaukee, WI.
Henke & Pilot (Kroger) is founded in Houston, TX.
1873 Ralphs Grocery Company is founded in Los Angeles.
1874  
1875 Magruder's is founded in Washington, DC.
1876  
1877 Butler Brothers (Ben Franklin Stores) was founded as a mail-order wholesaler of general merchandise supplying independent
     variety store owners.
1878 The F.W. Woolworth Co. is founded in Utica, NY.
1879  

1880 - 1889
1880 The first "private label" brand product is created:  A & P baking powder.
1881 A & P becomes the first grocery chain to have 100 stores.
1882 McCrory Stores is founded in Scottdale, PA.
Daniel Grocer Co. is founded in Murphysboro, IL.
1883 Hannafords is founded in Portland, ME.
Kroger is founded in Cincinnati, OH.
1884  
1885 Nash Finch is founded as a small candy and tobacco store in Devils Lake, ND.
1886 Richard Sears (Sears) founded the R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneapolis, MN.
1887 Acme Tea Company (Acme Markets) is founded in Pennsylvania.
S.H. Kress Co. is founded in Nanticoke, PA.
Richard Sears moved his business to Chicago, IL and teamed up with watchmaker Alvah Roebuck (Sears, Roebuck & Co.).
Bohack's is founded in New York.
1888 George Dunlap Company (Acme Markets) is founded in Pennsylvania.
Gristede's is founded in New York City.
1889 Simon David opened in Dallas as a specialty food/gourmet retailer.

1890 - 1899
1890 The Bell Company (Acme Markets) is founded in Pennsylvania.
Bartell Drugs was founded in Seattle, WA.
1891 A grocery store named "The House That Quality Built" (Acme Markets) is founded in Philadelphia, PA.
The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co. (Acme Fresh Markets) is founded in Akron, OH.
1892  
1893 Eagle Food Center is founded in Davenport, IL.
1894  
1895 H.G. Hill Food Store is founded in Nashville, TN.
1896  
1897 Sebastian S. Kresge (Kresges) and James G. McCrorey (McCrory Stores) opened a 5 and 10 cent store in Memphis, TN.
Remke Markets is founded in Covington, KY.
1898 Eckerd Drugs was founded in Erie, PA.
1899 Jewel T was founded in Chicago as a door-to-door coffee delivery service.
National Tea Company (National Food Stores) is founded in Chicago, IL.
G.C. Murphy Co. is founded in Pittsburgh, PA.
S.S. Kresge Co. is founded in Detroit, MI.

1900 - 1909
1900 Triangle Groceteria (Alpha Beta) is founded in Southern California.
The owner of Albrecht Grocery Store in Akron visits an Acme Market in Philadelphia.  Upon his return, he adopts several
     Acme Markets ideas and renames his store Acme #1.
Daniel Reeves Co. (Safeway) is founded in New York.
Hook's Drug Stores is founded in Indianapolis, IN.
1901 A.L. Duckwall founded Duckwall 5 & 10 Cent Store in Abilene, Kansas.
McCrory operated 20 5&10 cent stores.
1902 Kroger operates 40 stores.
40 independently-owned drugstores join together to form Rexall Drugs as a retailers cooperative named United Drugs.
1903  
1904 Waldbaum's in Brooklyn, NY.
Kroger purchased the 14-store Nagel Meat Market chain and meat packing house.
1905 C.C. Butt Staple and Fancy Groceries (H-E-B) is founded in Kerrville, TX.
1906 William T. Grant opened his first W.T. Grant Co. store in Lynn, MA.
Von's Groceteria is founded in Los Angeles, CA.
1907 Price Chopper is founded in Schenectady, NY.
Fisher Brothers Co. (Fisher Foods) is founded in Cleveland, OH.
1908 Kroger has 136 stores in Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
Filene's Basement was founded as Automatic Bargain Basement in Boston, MA.
Kinney Drugs was founded in Gouverneur, NY.
1909 Sprouse-Reitz Stores was founded in Portland, OR.
Brown & Cole Stores is founded in Lynden, OR.
Fisher Brothers Co. (Fisher Foods) operated 7 stores in Ohio.
Fulmer Supermarkets was founded in Ohio.

1910 - 1919
1910 Logli Stores is founded in Rockford, IL.
1911 McCrory operated 69 stores.
F.W. Woolworth Co. operated 596 stores.
The J.J. Newberry Co. was founded in Stroudsburg, PA.
1912 The S.S. Kresge Co. operated 85 stores with sales of $ 10 million.
Weis Pure Foods was founded in Sunbury, PA
Santa Ana Grocery Company was founded in California.
Jitney Jungle is founded in Jackson, MS.
Schultz Brothers Co.  (Shultz Sav-O Stores) is founded in Wisconsin.
Adolph Weinberger (Gray Drug Stores) opened his first drugstore in Cleveland, OH.
1913 Quality Markets is founded in Jamestown, PA.
Milgram Food Stores is founded in Kansas City, MO.
1914 Economy Grocery Stores (Stop & Shop) is founded in Somerville, MA.
Seelig Grocers is founded in California.
Santa Ana Grocery Company changed its name to Smart & Final.
1915 McCrory operated 128 stores.
Skaggs Cash Stores is founded in Idaho.
 King's Discount Stores is founded in Burley, ID.
Rose's 5 & 10 Cent Stores is founded in Henderson, NC.
Greer's Grocery is founded in Mobile, AL.
1916 America's first true self-service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly is founded in Memphis, TN.
The first self-service Kroger store opens.
Rochester Fruit & Vegetable Company (Wegman's) is founded in New York.
 United Cash Store is founded in Sayre, OK.
Ohio-based Fisher Brothers Co. (Fisher Foods) operated 48 stores.
Autry Greer and Sons, Inc. (Greer's Food Tiger) is founded in Mobile, AL.
Sinclair Oil & Refining Corp. was founded in New York by combining 11 small oil companies.
1917 American Stores Company is founded when five small Pennsylvania grocery chains merge to form Acme Markets.
Triangle Groceteria begins using the Alpha Beta name on a store in Pomona, CA.
McLellan 5 & 10 Cent Stores is founded in North Carolina.
DeMoula's is founded in Lowell, MA.
Schottenstein's (Value City) is founded in Columbus, OH.
Food World in High Point, NC.
Neimann's Grocery is founded in Illinois.
Grand Rapids Grocer Co. (Spartan Stores) is organized in Grand Rapids, MI.
 Katz Drugs is founded in Kansas City.
Keystone Grocery & Tea Co. is founded.
1918 Dominick's Finer Foods is founded in Chicago, IL.
Food City is founded in Greenville, TN.
Giant Eagle is founded in Pittsburgh, PA.
BG Wholesale (Houchens) is founded in Kentucky.
1919 Brockton Public Market acquired Shaws.
Borun Brothers (Thrifty Drug) is founded in Los Angeles, CA.
Smart & Final sales reached $ 10 million.
John Ramey (Price Cutter) purchased a grocery store in Springfield, MO.
Louis Daitch opened a dairy (Shopwell) in New York.

1920 - 1929
1920 Food Fair was founded in Harrisburg, PA.
 A & P has 4,544 stores.
Acme Markets has 1,223 stores.
National Food Stores operated 160 stores.
Graul's Markets is founded in Baltimore City, MD.
1921 Coborn's is founded in Sauk Rapids, MN.
Rochester Fruit & Vegetable Company (Wegman's) acquired Seel Grocery Co.
Brookshire Brothers Grocery is founded in Lufkin, TX.
Cook Coffee Co. (Pick-N-Pay) is founded in Cleveland, OH.
1922 Sebastian S. Kresge purchased the Plautt Department Store in downtown Newark, NJ and renamed the store Kresge-Newark.
Tampa Wholesale (Kash 'n Karry) is founded in Tampa, FL.
 Broulim's is founded in Rigby, ID.
McCrory operated 159 stores.
Fred Meyer is founded in Portland, OR.
Alaska Commercial Co. was sold to a group of employees and re-named the Northern Commercial Company.
1923 B & B Cash Grocery is founded in Avon Park, FL.
Charles Rini & Sons was founded in Cleveland, OH.
F.J. Mahar Service Store (Park & Shop) is founded in Olean, NY.
Carlisle Meat Market (Giant) in Carlisle, PA.
Victory Super Markets is founded in Massachusetts.
 Ball's Food Stores (Hen House) is founded in Kansas City.
A.F. Geissler founded Geissler's Supermarkets in East Windsor, CT.
1924 Genovese Drugs was founded in Astoria, Queens, NY.
 Farmer Jack is founded as Tom's Quality Meats in Detroit, MI.
City Market is founded in Grand Junction, CO.
1925 A & P has 14,034 stores.
Acme Markets has 1,792 stores.
Rockmoor Grocery (Winn Dixie) is founded in Miami, FL.
Purity Stores was founded in San Francisco, CA.
Three grocery store chains merge to form First National Stores (Finast) with 1,644 locations.
Seelig Grocers renames their stores Safeway.
Wades Foods is founded as a mercantile store in Alum Ridge, VA.
Klein's Family Markets is founded in Fallston, MD.
1926 Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA), the first voluntary chain of independent grocers, is founded in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Nugget Markets is founded in Woodland, CA.
Safeway (322 stores) and Skaggs United Stores (673 stores) merge.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. operated 8 retail stores.
Associated Wholesale Grocer is founded in Kansas City, MO.
Oleson's Food Stores was founded in Traverse City, MI.
1927 A & P opens its first "no frills" economy store in Jersey City, NJ.
There are over 150 independent grocery stores operating under the IGA banner.
Butler Brothers sold Ben Franklin Stores franchises to independent variety store owners.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. operated 27 retail stores.
Rockmoor Grocery is renamed Table Supply (Winn Dixie).
1928 Jones Brothers Tea Co. is renamed the Grand Union Tea Company.
Kohl's Food Stores is founded in Milwaukee, WI.
Fisher Brothers Co. (Fisher Foods) has 323 stores in northern Ohio.
McMarr Stores acquired Vons Groceteria.
Kroger acquired Giant Eagle.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. operated 192 retail stores.
Fred Meyer opens its first drug store.
Pay 'n Takit stores and the west coast Piggly Wiggly stores become a part of Safeway.
Hometown Stores (Trucchi's) is founded in Taunton, MA.
Alexander's Department Stores is founded in New York.
Snyder Drug was founded in Minneapolis, MN.
1929 Kroger operates 5,575 stores, the largest number in its history.
National Food Stores operated 1,600 stores.
Andronico's is founded in San Francisco, CA.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. operated 319 retail stores.
Buehler's is founded in New Philadelphia, OH.
White Front Stores was founded in Southern California.
Furr's Grocery is founded in Texas.
Clemens Markets is founded Pennsylvania.
Heinen's is founded in Cleveland, OH.

1930 - 1939
1930 Publix is founded in Winter Haven, FL.
Micheal Cullen opened America's first supermarket (King Kullen) in a vacant garage in Queens, NY.
After only 4 years in existence, there are over 8,000 independent grocery stores operating under the IGA banner.
Hy-Vee is founded in Beaconsfield, Iowa.
Market Basket was founded in Pasadena, California.
McMarr Stores is acquired by Skaggs Companies.
Santoni's Super Market is founded in Baltimore, MD.
Clemens Family Markets is founded in Lansdale, PA.
1931 Peninsula Stores Ltd. (Lucky Stores) was founded in California with the purchase of 3 Piggly Wiggly grocery stores.
 Dahl's Foods is founded in Des Moines, IO.
Table Supply (Winn Dixie) acquired the Tampa, FL-based Lively Stores chain.
Marsh Supermarkets is founded in Muncie, IN.
Kroger sells Giant Eagle back to its original owners who merge it with their OK Grocery Chain.
Fred Meyer opened its first supermarket/drug store/general merchandise combination store.
Safeway operated 3,527 stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. founded the Allstate Insurance Co.
 L&L Food Centers is founded in Lansing, MI.
1932 D'Agostino's is founded in New York City.
 Bruno's Bros. grocery store is founded in Birmingham, AL.
Harold L. Green founded the H.L. Green Co.
Public Service Outlet (Price Chopper) is founded in Green Island, NY.
Basha's is founded in Arizona.
Smith's Food Store is founded in Brigham City, UT.
Minyard's is founded in East Dallas, TX.
PayLess Drugs is founded in Tacoma, WA.
Riesbeck Food Markets is founded in Martins Ferry, OH.
Hyde Park Cooperative Society (Co-Op Markets) is founded in Illinois.
Stauffers of Kissel Hill is founded in Pennsylvania.
Harmon's is founded as a produce stand in Utah.
200 independently owned grocery stores comprise the Edwards Food Stores voluntary chain in Ohio.
George Darrenkamp & Sons was founded in Lancaster, PA.
Jake Harmon opened a fruit stand in named The Market Spot (Harmon's) in Salt Lake City, UT.
Adams Drug Co. was founded in Pawtucket, RI.
1933 Giant Food Markets, New York State's first self-service supermarket, is founded in Binghamton.
Packard-Bamberger & Co. was founded in Hackensack, NJ.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. operated 400 retail stores.
With 275 variety stores, McLellan Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
 Central Market (Price Chopper) is founded in Schenectady, NY.
Weis Pure Foods operated 115 stores in Pennsylvania.
Haggen's is founded in Bellingham, WA.
Okuyama Meat Market (Sure Save Supermarkets) is founded in Hawaii.
1934 M.H. Lamston Stores is founded in New York City.
Big Bear Stores Company is founded in Ohio as the first self-service supermarket in the Midwest.
Rosauer's is founded in Spokane, WA.
E.W. James & Sons is founded in Hickman, Kentucky.
Meijer is founded in Greenville, MI.
G.C. Murphy Co. operated 181 stores in 11 states.
Thrifty Payless Drugs is founded in Arizona.
Associated Grocers of Seattle is founded.
1935 Table Talk is founded in Freehold, New Jersey.
H.L. Green Co. operated 133 5&10 cent stores.
TG&Y is founded in Oklahoma City, OK.
Raley's is founded in Placerville, CA.
1936 A & P its first self-service stores in Braddock, PA.
King's Super Markets is founded in Summit, New Jersey.
Cash Y Market (Big Y Foods) is founded in Chicopee, MA.
W.T. Harris (Harris Teeter) opened a grocery store in Charlotte, NC.
Giant Food, Inc. is founded in Washington, DC.
United Stores Corp. acquired both McCrory Corp. and McLellan Stores.
Stater Bros. Market is founded in Yucaipa, CA.
West Point Market is founded in Akron, OH.
1937 Key Food Stores Co-Op, Inc. was founded in New York.
David Pender Grocery Co. founded the Big Star Markets chain.
Sunset Foods was founded in Highland Park, IL.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods launched its Master Market self-service format.
Ukrop's is founded in Richmond, VA.
The Midwest's first self-service drugs store, Pay-Less Drugs is founded in Rochester, MN.
Village Food Store is founded in Springfield, NJ.
Walt's Food Centers is founded in Illinois.
1938 Chantry's Super Food Market is founded in Utica, NY.
Longs Drugs is founded in California.
Landis Supermarkets is founded in Telford, PA.
Joe and Tom Long founded Longs Drugs in California.
1939 Bohack's has 740 stores.
Albertsons is founded in Boise, Idaho.
Teeter's Food Mart (Harris Teeter) is founded in Mooresville, NC.
Pure Food Market (Hugo's) was founded in Grand Forks, SD.
Hannafords purchased H.S. Melcher Co., sponsor of Red & White Stores in Maine.
Schnucks is founded in north St. Louis, MO.
Originally a part of Brookshire Brothers Grocery, Brookshire Grocery Co. is founded in Tyler, TX.
George W. Martin (Skagway Stores) purchased the Nebraska-based O.P. Skaggs grocery store chain.
Table Supply (Winn Dixie) acquired the Winn & Lovett chain of 73 stores and takes the Winn & Lovett name.
Fisher Brothers Co. (Fisher Foods) operated over 300 stores in Ohio.

1940 - 1949
1940 Certified Grocers of Midwest is founded in Illinois as a wholesale cooperative.
1941 Sears, Roebuck & Co. operated 600 retail stores.
P & C Cooperative Markets is founded in Utica, NY.
Hiller's Markets is founded in Detroit, MI.
Pay 'n Save drugstores is founded in Seattle, WA.
1942 SuperValu is founded as a banner for independent grocery stores.
Owners Service Company (Osco Drugs) is founded in Chicago.
Skaggs Companies acquired the AZ-based Payless Drug chain.
Minnesota-based Self-Service Drug stores merges with Osco Drug.
P & C Cooperative Markets opened its first supermarket in Batavia, NY.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. expanded outside the United States when it opened a store in Havana, Cuba.
Lewis Drug Stores was founded in South Dakota.
1943 Nicholas Markets is founded in North Haledon, NJ.
Mars Super Markets is founded in Essex, MD.
PW Market is founded in San Jose, CA.
P & C Cooperative Markets acquired the 5-store NY based Commander Foods chain
D & W Fresh Markets is founded in Grandville, MI.
1944 S.H. Kress Co. operated over 200 stores.
Hannafords opened its first company-owned retail grocery store.
Rose's 5 & 10 Cent Stores operated 118 stores.
Harding's Friendly Markets was founded in Parchment, MI.
1945 Publix acquired the 19-store Florida-based All American Grocery Co.
Winn & Lovett (Winn Dixie) purchased the Steiden Stores chain in KY the 46-store Margaret Ann chain.
 Sav-on Drug Stores is founded in San Bernardino, CA.
1946 Wakefern Corp. (ShopRite) is founded in Newark, NJ.
Two Guys Discount Department Stores is founded in Harrison, NJ.
Economy Grocery Stores changes its name to Stop & Shop.
 Balducci's is founded in New York City.
Grand Union shareholders turn down a proposed takeover by American Stores Company (Acme Markets).
Canned Foods Grocery Outlet (Grocery Outlet) is founded in San Francisco, CA.
Yokes Fresh Markets is founded in Washington state.
Paramount Foods (Laneco) is founded in Easton, PA.
Schwegmann's opened its first Schwegmann Brothers Giant Super Market.
Rexall Drugs acquired the Texas-based Renfro chain.
1947 Scolari's is founded in California.
Cash Y Market is incorporated and renamed Big Y Foods.
Woodrow "Chubby" Auge and Irvin "Tubby" Frese founded Chubby & Tubby's variety store in Seattle, WA.
National Food Stores acquired the Indiana-based, 48-store Standard Grocery Company chain.
Canada-based Loblaw's acquired a controlling interest in the Chicago-based National Food Stores.
Martin's Super Markets is founded in South Bend, IN.
California-based Thriftimart merged with Fitzsimmons Stores.
Cala Foods is founded in San Francisco.
King Soopers is founded in Arvada, CO.
Pay Less Super Markets is founded in Indiana.
 Vallerga's Market is founded in Napa Valley, CA.
1948 E.J. Korvettes is founded in New York City as one of the country's first discount stores.
 FoodLand was founded in Honolulu, HI.
Canned Foods Grocery Outlet (Grocery Outlet) is renamed US Markets.
Tom Thumb stores is founded in Dallas, TX.
Schottenstein's launches Value City furniture stores.
Consentino's is founded in Kansas City.
Dorothy Lane Markets was founded in Dayton, Ohio.
1949 Jumbo Food Stores was founded in the Baltimore, MD.
Comber & Fox (VG's) was founded in Fenton, MI.
The Shultz Brothers Co. began franchising and supplying Piggly Wiggly Stores in Wisconsin.
 QFI is founded in San Francisco.
 Barnes Foodland is founded in DeWitt, IA and is supplied by Certified Grocers Midwest.
Boyer's Food Markets was founded in Orwigsburg, PA.
Dan's Super Markets was founded in Bismarck, ND.

1950 - 1959
1950 Food Basket Suprette (Food Circus) is founded in Middletown, New Jersey.
Florida-based B&B Cash Grocery launched its U-Save supermarket chain.
G.C. Murphy Co. acquired Morris Department Stores.
Carr's Grocery is founded in Anchorage, AK.
Harveys was founded in Georgia.
Rose's 5 & 10 Cent Stores (Variety Wholesalers) operated 130 stores.
Shultz Brothers Co. began opening its own Piggly Wiggly stores.
1951 Independent grocery store owners in New Jersey begin advertising under the ShopRite name.
 Albertsons opens its first food and drug combination store.
Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, opened Walton 5 & 10 with a Ben Franklin Stores franchise in Bentonville, AR.
Great Bear Market (Tops) is founded in Niagara Falls, NY.
Chief Supermarkets is founded in Defiance, OH.
Gelson's Supermarkets is founded in Burbank, CA.
Hornbacher's is founded in North Dakota.
Dot's Market (Imperial Foodtown) is founded in Kettering, OH.
Cook Coffee Co. acquired the Cleveland, OH-based, 10 store Pick-N-Pay supermarket chain.
1952 ShopRite has over 50 independently owned supermarkets in its cooperative.
 Kroger sales reach $ 1 billion.
Carter's Foods was founded in Michigan.
Save Mart Supermarkets is founded in Modesto, CA.
Roche Brothers is founded Roslindale, MA.
Illinois-based Eagle (5 stores) and Tenenborn (8 stores) merge and take the name of United Supermarkets.
Fruth Drugs was founded in West Virginia.
Ohio-based Food Town acquired Cleveland-based Edwards Food Stores.
Fruth Drugs was founded in West Virginia.
1953 Winn & Lovett acquired MS-based Penny Stores and the Dixie Home Stores chain and renames itself Winn Dixie.
Roundy's is founded in Wisconsin as a voluntary chain for independent grocery stores.
Lunardi's Markets is founded in San Francisco, CA.
1954 Swanson introduces the first TV dinner.
Inserra Supermarkets is founded in Lyndhurst, NJ.
 Genuardi's is founded in Jeffersonville, PA.
13 United Supermarkets and 10 Eagle Kash and Karry stores merge creating Eagle-United Supermarkets.
J.J. Newberry Co. operated 475 stores.
Fry's was founded in California.
Big Bear Stores acquires Ohio-based Hart's Department Stores.
North Dakota-based Nash Finch entered the retail grocery industry by purchasing a chain of 17 supermarkets in Nebraska.
Lowes Foods was founded in Wilksboro, NC.
Scotts supermarkets is founded Indiana.
FedMart was founded in San Diego, CA.
 Winston & Newell Co. changes its name to SuperValu.
DeMoulas Super Markets is founded in Massachusetts.
1955 New Jersey-based Twin County Grocers launched its Foodtown banner for independent supermarket owners.
Daitch Crystal Dairies merges with Shopwell Foods supermarket chain in New York.
E.J. Korvettes opens its first modern department store (90,000 square foot) in Carle Place, Long Island, NY.
Winn Dixie acquired Ballentine Stores and Eden Stores, both based in South Carolina.
New Jersey-based Food Basket launches its first Food Circus supermarket.
K-VA-T is founded in Grundy, VA.
Hannafords acquires T. R. Savage Co.
Bel-Air Markets is founded in Scaramento, CA.
Thriftimart acquired Smart & Final.
Four independent grocers in Akron, OH join together to form Sparkle Markets.
United Markets is founded in Marin, CA.
1956 Grand Union launched its Grand Way Department Stores chain.
Met Foods is founded in New York as a banner for independent grocers.
Supermarkets Operating Co. (Pathmark) is founded in New Jersey and operated under the ShopRite banner.
Winn Dixie acquired King Stores, Hill Stores and Kettner-Milner Stores.
Quality Food Centers (QFC) was founded in Bellevue, WA.
 National Food Stores is acquired by Canada-based George Weston Ltd. (Loblaw's).
Revco (Registered Vitamin Company) was founded in Ohio.
1957 Pennsylvania-based Food Fair has 275 stores.
Rini Supermarkets is founded in Cleveland, OH.
Grand Union operates 381 stores.
H.L. Green Co. acquired Mobile, AL-based Olen Company and operated a combined 227 stores.
Dillon Co. acquired the 9-store King Soopers chain.
Food Town (Food Lion) was founded in Salisbury, NC.
American Seaway Foods is formed in Ohio through a combination of several grocery wholesalers in Ohio.
 Farm Fresh is founded as a neighborhood grocery store.
Perry Drug Stores was founded in Pontiac, MI.
 
35 Top U.S. Supermarket Chains By Sales Volume - 1957
1)  A & P
2)  Safeway
3)  Kroger
4)  American Stores (Acme)
5)  National Tea Co.
6)  Food Fair Stores
7)  First National (Finast)		 8)  Winn Dixie
9)  Colonial Stores
10)  Grand Union
11)  Jewel T
12)  ACF Wrigley Stores
13)  Loblaw
14)  Red Owl Stores		 15)  Penn Fruit Co.
16)  Bohack's
17)  Thriftimart
18)  Lucky Stores
19)  Stop & Shop
20)  Weingarten
21)  Mayfair Markets		 22)  Fisher Bros
23)  Thorofare Stores
24)  Purity Stores
25)  Shopping Bag
26)  Market Basket
27)  Cook Coffee Co.
28)  Daitch Shopwell		 29)  Big Bear
30)  Alpha Beta
31)  Food Mart
32)  Dillon & Sons
33)  Marsh Foodliners
34)  Food Giant
35)  Sunrise Supermarkets
1958 Food Fair purchased the 40-store Jacksonville, Florida based Setzer's Supermarkets chain.
Big Boy Markets is founded in Escalon, CA.
McCrory Stores acquired McLellan Stores.
Caputo's Fresh Markets is founded in Elmwood Park, IL.
Giant Foods launches its Giant Department Stores format.
With 11,158 stores Rexall Drugs is the largest U.S. drug store franchise.
Pronto Markets (Trader Joe's) is founded in Los Angeles, CA.
Fay's Drugs was founded in Fairmount, NY.
1959 Butler Brothers sold the Ben Franklin Stores chain.
Lucky Stores operates 117 supermarkets in California and Washington.
Skagway Stores is launched in Grand Island, NE.
United Stores merged McLellan Stores and H.L. Green Co. stores into McCrory Stores.  The merged company,
     McCrory-McLellan-Green (M.M.G.) operated approximately 850 stores.
G.C. Murphy Co. acquired the 112-store Morgan & Lindsay department store chain
Karns Quality Foods is founded in Harrisburg, PA.
GEMCO discount department store chain is founded in Anaheim, California.
Pick-N-Pay acquired the 24 store, Cleveland, OH-based Food Town chain.

1960 - 1969
1960 Harris Super Markets and Teeter's Food Marts merged to form Harris Teeter Super Markets.
Lucky Stores purchased the GEMCO chain and added supermarkets to the GEMCO stores.
Rouses Supermarkets in Metairie, LA.
Vons Groceteria acquired Shopping Bag Food Stores which is challenged by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on
     Anti-Trust grounds.
Duane Reade drugstores is founded in New York City.
 
10 Top U.S. Supermarket Chains By Sales Volume - 1960
1)  A & P
2)  Safeway		 3)  Kroger
4)  National Stores		 5)  Acme Markets
6)  Winn Dixie		 7)  Food Fair
8)  Finast		 9)  Grand Union
10)  Jewel
1961 Food Fair acquired New England-based J.M. Fields Discount Department Stores.
Acme Markets acquired California-based Alpha Beta supermarkets.
ShopRite has over 70 independently owned supermarkets with a combined annual sales of over $ 100 million.
J.J. Newberry Co. operated 565 stores.
Stop & Shop acquired the Bradlees discount department store chain.
Chicago-based Jewel acquires the Osco Drugstore chain.
McCrory acquired Lerner Stores.
Chicago-based Consolidated Foods Co. acquired Eagle-United Supermarkets.
G.C. Murphy Co. acquired the 17-store, Texas-based Terry Farris Department Store chain.
Nob Hill Foods is founded in Morgan Hill, CA.
Jewel Food Stores acquired Osco Drugs.
Cleveland, OH-based Pick-N-Pay acquired the 5-store Uncle Bill's Discount Department Stores chain.
Gooding's is founded in the Orlando, FL area.
BI-LO stores is founded in South Carolina.
Safeway exits the Northeast market by selling its 160 stores there to Finast.
1962 The S.S. Kresge Co. launched its Kmart discount department store chain in Garden City, MI.
Hometown Stores is renamed Trucchi's Supermarkets.
 Publix operated 85 stores.
F.W. Woolworth Co. launched its Woolco discount department store chain.
Max Kohl (Kohl's Food Stores) launched Kohl's Department Stores.
Riverside Markets is acquired by Penn Traffic Company and the company launches its combination food/drug/discount
     department store format.
Jewel Grand Bazaar, which occupied a full city block in Chicago is opened.
The Shultz Brothers Co. changed its name to Shultz Sav-O Stores.
 Market Basket is founded in Texas as a voluntary chain for independent grocers.
ShopKo is founded in Green Bay, WI.
JC Penney acquires the parent company of The Treasury discount stores.
Meijer's Thrifty Acres hypermarket is opened in Kalamazoo, MI.
Sedano's Supermarkets was founded in Miami, FL.
Safeway expands to the United Kingdom with the acquisition of the 11-store John Gardner Ltd. stores.
The B-Kwik (Tops) store banner was developed in New York for smaller independently owned grocery stores.
Niagara Frontier Services launches its Tops and B-Kwik banners for independent supermarkets in New York.
Tampa, FL-based Big Barn changed its name to Kash 'n Karry (Sweetbay).
Roth's Markets is founded in Salem, OR.
B & R Stores is founded in Lincoln, NE.
1963 New Jersey-based Supermarkets Operating Co. (Pathmark) acquired the Crown Drugs chain.
F.W. Woolworth Co. acquired the Kinney Shoe Corp.
Ingles Markets is founded in Asheville, NC.
Gibson Products Co. (Pamida) is founded in Knoxville, IO.
 Kroger enters acquired the 56-store Market Basket chain.
Reasor's is founded in Tahlequah, OK.
Safeway expands to Australia with the acquisition of the 3-store Pratt Supermarkets chain.
Simon David is acquired by Tom Thumb stores.
Civic Drugs (Arbor Drugs) is founded in Detroit, MI.
1964 Genesco acquired S.H. Kress Co.
Skagway Stores sold its O.P. Skaggs grocery store chain.
Arden Farms acquired Los Angeles-based Gelson's Supermarkets and Los Angeles-based Mayfair Markets.
Gooding's supermarkets is founded in Maitland, FL.
Minneapolis-based Hoves Grocery is renamed Lunds.
Smitty's Big Town, a food/drug/department store, is founded in Arizona.
Nash Finch launched its Warehouse Market no-frills supermarkets.
Safeway expands to Germany with the acquisition of several Big Bear stores.
Cleveland, OH-based Gray Drug Stores acquired the Rink's Discount Department Stores chain.
Larry's Markets was founded in Seattle, WA.
 CWC Companies was founded in Ohio.
David's Supermarkets was founded in Grandview, TX.
1965 San Francisco-based Cala Foods purchased the Littleman Foods chain.
Holiday Quality Foods is founded in Cottonwood, CA.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods is renamed Fazio's.
1966 E.J. Korvettes was acquired by the parent company of Spartan-Atlantic Discount Stores.
With a combined total of 75 supermarkets operated under the ShopRite banner, Supermarkets Operating Co. merges with
      General Super Markets.  The merged company is named Supermarkets General Corp. (Pathmark).
 Pioneer Supermarkets is founded in New York as a banner for independent grocers.
With 162 Kmart stores and 753 Kresge stores, S.S. Kresge Co. sales exceed $ 1 billion.
Annual sales by SulerValu-affiliated retailers exceed $ 1 billion.
Indiana-based Marsh Supermarkets launched its Village Pantry convenience store chain.
Chicago-based Jewel acquired the Buttrey Food & Drug chain.
Lucky operated 166 supermarkets, 18 discount centers and 11 GEMCO stores.
Hannafords acquired the 31 store, Maine-based Sampson's Supermarkets chain.
O'Malia's Food Markets is founded in Indiana.
BI-LO was founded as Red Food Stores in South Carolina.
As a result of losing the anti-trust suit brought against them by the Federal Trade Commission, Vons is forced to
     sell the Shopping Bag supermarket chain.
Randalls Food & Drug is founded in Houston, TX.
1967 NJ-based Two Guys acquired California-based Food Giant Markets, Unimart membership stores and Builder's Emporium.
 Winn Dixie acquired Bahamas-based City Markets.
 Gerland's Food Fair is founded in Houston.
Weis Markets acquired the 6-store Albany Public Markets chain in New York.
Sullivan Foods was founded in Savanna, IL.
Waremart discount warehouse grocery (WinCo Foods) is founded in Boise, ID.
Maryland-based Roswil, Inc. acquired Missouri-based Ramey Supermarkets (Price Cutter).
Lena's Food Marts is founded in Milwaukee, WI.
1968 Colonial Stores re-launched the Big Star name on its discount grocery format stores.
With 81 supermarkets, 11 drug stores and 11 gasoline stations, along with the Rickel Home Centers chain, Supermarkets
     General Corp. left the ShopRite cooperative and renamed its stores Pathmark.
Duckwall 5 & 10 Cent Stores began opening larger discount stores named ALCO.
Butera Markets is founded in Illinois.
Lucky Stores purchased Eagle Stores in Texas, the Illinois-based May's drugstore chain and the Tanne-Arden retail apparel
     stores chain.
Big B Discount Drugs (Bruno's) is founded in Alabama.
 CA-based Lucky Stores acquired Eagle-United Supermarkets and 68 Piggly Wiggly stores from Consolidated Foods.
 Kroger sales reach $ 3 billion.
Byerly's is founded in Minneapolis.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods acquired Dominick's Finer Foods.
Hooley's launched its Cub Foods (Consumers United for Buying) format in Stillwater, MN.
California-based Stater Bros. is acquired by Petrolane Inc.
The Big Star name is revived when Colonial Stores uses it on its new discount supermarket chain.
Tidyman's is founded in Spokane, WA.
Lucky Stores purchased the May's drugstore chain in IL, IO and WI.
Thrift Drug was acquired by JC Penney.
1969 Publix operated 169 stores.
 Winn Dixie operated 715 stores in the South.
 Albertsons partners with Skaggs Companies.
The Zody's discount store chain is founded.
Gristede's is acquired by Southland Corp. (7-11).
The Ruddick Corp. acquired Harris Teeter.
Cleveland, Oh-based Pick-N-Pay operated 70 supermarkets and 90 discount department stores.
Hy-Vee acquired the IO-based Swanson Stores chain.
Dillion Co. acquired the City Market chain.
Household Finance Corp. acquires Vons Groceteria.
Wilson Farms is launched in New York.
Sinclair Oil Corp. was acquired by Atlantic Richfield (ARCO).

1970 - 1979
1970 Food Fair acquired New York-based Hill's Supermarkets from E.J. Korvettes.
P & C Foods is acquired by Pneumo Dynamics Corp., an aerospace company.
Redner's Markets was founded in Reading, PA.
Kohl's Food Stores is acquired by Britian's Brown & Williamson.
New York-based Shopwell attempts to launch a chain of convenience stores named Shop-Quick.
C.G. Murphy Co. launched its Murphy's Mart discount department store format
U.S. Markets (Grocery Outlet) acquired Globe of California and the company is renamed Canned Foods.
Pennsylvania-based Giant acquires Maryland-based Martin's Food Markets.
1971 The first A & P Warehouse Economy Outlet (WEO) is opened in Pennsauken, NJ.
North Carolina-based Pope's Stores acquired Charlotte, NC-based Eagle Stores.
SuperValu acquired ShopKo.
Safeway sold its Super S drugstore chain.
Red Apple Supermarkets is launched by John Catsimidis (Gristede's) in New York.
Safeway pulls out of New York with the sale of its 18 NY stores to NY-based P & C Foods.
Big A Drug was established in Long Beach, CA.
Trig's Food & Drug in Land O'Lakes, WI.
1972 A & P WEO, in various forms, was expanded to all conventional A & P stores chain-wide.
Kohl's Department Stores was acquired by Brown & Williamson.
Alabama-based Bruno's launched its Food World discount supermarket chain.
McCrory (650 stores) acquired J.J. Newberry Co. (439 stores).  The combined company is named G. McNew.
Zody's acquired the Flint, MI-based Yankee Discount Department store chain.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods acquired the 46-store Shopping Bag chain.
Fiesta Mart is founded in Houston, TX.
Alabama-based Bruno's launches Food World low price supermarkets.
P & C Foods acquired a 24 store New England based supermarket chain.
1973 British corporate raider James Goldsmith acquired Grand Union (561 stores).
San Francisco-based Cala Foods acquired QFI.
Hannafords launched its Wellby Drug Stores chain.
Super S Foods is founded in Central Texas.
1974 Daitch Crystal Dairies stores were renamed Shopwell.
Publix annual sales reach $ 1 billion.
F.W. Woolworth Co. acquired Foot Locker.
Penn Traffic Co. launched its Bi-Lo format discount supermarket banner.
 Ohio-based Fisher Foods operated 197 stores in OH,CA and IL.
Building supply retailer Bilt-Rite Chase-Pitkin is acquired by Wegmans.
Nordstrom's acquired the department stores owned by Alaska Commercial Co.
J. B. Gottstein and Carr merge their companies to form Carrs Quality Centers in Alaska.
First use of bar code scanning in supermarkets at a Marsh Supermarket in Troy, OH.
New York based Bohacks files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
1975 New Jersey-based Two Guys acquired California-based White Front Stores.
The W.T. Grant Co. went out of business and closed all stores.
Penn Fruit, a Pennsylvania supermarket chain, is acquired by Food Fair.
C-Town Supermarkets is founded in New York as a banner for independently owned supermarkets.
Kroger sales reach $ 5 billion.
Valu-Mart is acquired by Fred Meyer.
Price Chopper launched its Mini Chopper convenience store chain in Albany, NY.
Hornabcher's is acquired by SuperValu.
Roundy's launches the Pick 'n Save Wholesale Foods banner in Milwaukee, WI.
Busch's is founded in Saline, MI.
1976 Jolly Markets was acquired by San Francisco-based Cala Foods.
G.C. Murphy Co. operated 529 stores under the G.C. Murphy and Murphy's Mart banners.
Aldi, a German company, began in the U.S. with a few stores in Iowa.
Fine Fare Supermarkets is founded in New York as a banner for independently owned supermarkets.
Ohio-based Big Bear becomes a privately-owned company.
Comber & Fox launches its VG's Food & Pharmacy banner with its first store in Clio, MI.
United Drugs is founded in Phoenix, AZ as a banner for independently-owned pharmacies.
ARCO sold Sinclair to Earl Holding.
1977 Pathmark launched its "Super Center" format which included huge discount grocery stores, pharmacies and mini-banks.
 Two Guys sells its West Coast supermarkets to Fed Mart.
 BI-LO is acquired by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold.
Sav-A-Lot is founded as a limited-assortment discount grocery store.
 Alaska Commercial Co. was sold to the Community Enterprise Development Corporation of Alaska.
New York-based Bohacks is closed and the remaining stores are sold to C-Town.
Jon's Marketplace is founded in Southern California.
Drug Emporium is founded in Columbus, OH.
1978 Food Fair filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection and sold its J.M. Fields Discount Department Store chain.
Pathmark operated 109 supermarkets.
Finast acquired Cleveland, OH-based Pick-N-Pay.
 Brockton Public Market changed its name to Shaw's.
Compare Foods is founded in Queens, NY.
Sav-A-Lot is acquired by General Grocer Co.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods sold its California supermarkets to Albertsons.
Hawaii-based Sure Save Supermarkets enters the convenience store business (Wiki Wiki Mart).
Atlantic Richfield Oil Co. (ARCO) founded ampm convenience stores in Southern California.
1979 F.W. Woolworth Co. celebrated its 100th anniversary as the largest department store chain in the world.
American Stores Company (Acme Markets, Alpha Beta) was purchased by Skaggs Companies.  Skaggs takes the American
      Stores Company name.
Tengelmann Group of Germany acquired A & P.
Lucky Stores acquired Tampa, FL-based Kash 'n Karry.
Shopwell launches its upscale The Food Emporium chain.
Two Guys sold its 22 west coast department stores.
E.J. Korvettes was sold to a  French company, Agache-Willot Group.
Penn Traffic Co. acquired Quality Markets.
Skaggs and Albertsons dissolve their partnership.  Jointly held assets are divided evenly.
Coborn's launched its Cash Wise Foods warehouse stores in Willmar, MN.
Texas-based Furr's Grocery sold to a West German investor's group.
Kroger is the 2nd largest food retailer in the United States.
Shop 'n Save was founded in Belleville, IL.
Valu-Rite Pharmacy is founded as a banner for independently-owned pharmacies.
 Marc's is founded in Middleburg Heights, OH.

1980 - 1989
1980 Two Guys is liquidated as Vornado, its parent company, begins concentrating on commercial real estate.
 E.J. Korvettes closes all remaining stores on Christmas eve, marking an end to this one-time premier discount chain.
Variety Wholesalers acquired Mississippi-based Value Mart stores.
 SuperValu acquires the 5-store Minnesota-based Cub Foods chain.
Royal Ahold sells Red Food Stores to France-based Promodes.
Kroger sales reach $ 10 billion.
Jewel Food Stores acquired Sav-On Drugs.
Massachusetts-based Roche Brothers launched its Sudbury Farms stores chain.
1981 The DiMatteo family repurchased the 71 store Dominick's Finer Foods chain from Ohio-based Fisher Foods.
 Food Fair exits bankruptcy and changes its name to Pantry Pride Stores, Inc.
Cook United acquired the 47 store Rink's Discount Dept. Stores chain from Gray Drug Stores.
Gray Drug Stores operated over 360 drugstores in the Midwest and East when it acquired the 181 store Drug Fair chain.
Sherwin Williams Co. acquired Cleveland, OH-based Gray Drug Stores.
Penn Traffic Co. sells its department store division.
Variety Wholesalers acquired North Carolina-based Super Dollar stores.
Iowa-based Pamida became an employee-owned company.
JC Penney closes all The Treasury stores.
Kessel Food Markets is founded in Michigan
Nash Finch annual sales reach $ 1 billion.
Pennsylvania-based Giant is acquired by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. acquired Dean Witter Reynolds and Coldwell Banker.
Safeway becomes the world's largest supermarket chain with over 2,400 stores in North America, Australia and Europe.
Superior Super Warehouse is founded in California.
Iowa-based Dahl's is the world's first supermarket to test bank debit cards.
Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle celebrates 50th anniversary with 52 stores.
1982 A & P launches the SuperFresh and SAV-A-CENTER banners.
Grand Union acquired Colonial Stores (Big Star Markets).
The last 12 Two Guys stores are sold to Bradlees.
Scolari's acquired the Nevada-based Warehouse Markets chain.
Fred Meyer is acquired by investment firm Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts in a leveraged buyout.
Giant Foods launched its gourmet food store banner, Someplace Special, in Mclean, Va.
Minyard's launched its Sack 'n Save Warehouse Food Store banner.
Gray Drug Stores acquired the 26 store, Cleveland, OH-based Cunningham Drug Stores chain.
 Bristol Farms is founded in Rolling Hills, CA.
A & P purchased Stop & Shop's New York division and brings most of these stores under its SAV-A-CENTER banner.
Texas-based Minyards celebrates 50th anniversary with 53 stores and opens its first warehouse store.
Scolari's Super Markets acquires Nevada-based Warehouse Markets.
Wayfield Foods is founded in Georgia.
Wisconsin-based Shultz Sav-O (Fresh Brands) acquired the Sav-U chain.
Perry Drug Stores launched its Auto Works auto parts chain.
Wetterau acquired the 13 store, MO-based Shop 'n Save chain.
1983 F.W. Woolworth Co. closed all Woolco stores in the US.
Wisconsin-based Kohl's Food Stores is acquired by A & P.
Bruno's launched its Food Fair banner stores.
Carl Marks & Co. acquired M.H. Lamston Stores.
Wetterau acquired Shop 'n Save and Pennsylvania-based Laneco.
Kroger, during its 100th anniversary year, acquired Kansas-based Dillon Companies.
 General Grocer Co. is acquired by Wetterau.
 FedMart was closed and liquidated.
 Ohio-based Big Bear Stores becomes a publicly-traded company once again.
Petrolane Inc. sold California-based Stater Bros. to a private investment company.
Illinois-based Jewel launches its Jewel-Osco combination food and drug stores.
Tops Markets was acquired by a private investment firm.
Revco acquired the Odd Lots (Big Lots) chain.
Wal-Mart opens its first Sam's Club membership warehouse in Midwest City, OK.
1984 Pantry Pride acquired Rhode Island-based Adams Drug Stores and Devon Stores Corp.
American Stores Company (Acme Markets, Alpha Beta) purchased Jewel Food Stores and Osco Drugs.
Pathmark acquired Massachusetts-based Purity Supreme (66 supermarkets) .
 Winn Dixie launched its Winn Dixie Marketplace stores in Valdosta, GA.
Variety Wholesalers acquired North Carolina-based P.H. Rose stores.
Alpha Beta stores in Arizona are sold to ABCO Foods.
Alabama-based Bruno's launched its FoodMax warehouse foods banner.
 Merchants Distributors acquired North Carolina-based Lowes Foods.
 K-VA-T acquired the 19 store, TN-based Quality Foods chain.
The Ruddick Corp. acquired Food World and merged its 52 supermarkets with their Harris Teeter chain.
Rosauer's is acquired by URM Stores.
Super Shop 'n Save combination food/pharmacy store format is launched by Hannafords.
Skaggs Drug Centers are renamed Osco Drugs.
Kmart acquired Walden Books.
Bigg's supermarket/discount department store combination format is launched in Cincinnati, OH.
The Thriftimart chain is liquidated.
American Financial Corp. acquired Fazio's (Fisher Foods).
Safeway acquired Weingartens from Grand Union.
Brookshire's launched its Super 1 Foods banner in Alexandria, LA.
Dillon's (Kroger) purchases the 86-store Tom Thumb chain.
B.J.'s membership warehouse club is founded in Medford, MA.
Nebraska-based B&R Stores launches its Super Saver banner.
Wetterau acquired Missouri-based Milgram Food Stores.
1985 Pantry Pride acquired Revlon Corp. in hostile takeover bid.
Lucky Stores exited the Houston market and closed its 22 area Eagle Supermarkets.
G.C. Murphy Co. was acquired by Ames Department Stores.
Red Owl sold its company-owned stores (Red Owl and Country Stores) to independent owners.
Savannah, GA-based M & M Super Markets is acquired by Kroger.
Canada-based Dominion Stores is acquired by A & P.
Indianapolis, IN-based Danners Inc. closed its Danners 5 & 10 chain.
Fred Meyer acquired Salt Lake City-based Grand Central Stores.
Kmart acquired PayLess Drugs.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. introduced the Discover credit card.
Grand Union exits the Florida market with the sale of its Florida stores to Tampa-based Kash n' Karry (Sweetbay).
 Grand Union sells its Washington, DC area stores and exits the DC market.
P & C Foods managers purchase the company in a leveraged buyout.
Idaho-based WinCo is acquired by the company's employees.
The 11-store, Savannah, GA-based M&M Supermarkets chain is acquired by Kroger.
Cullen Companies (Tom Thumb) closes its 25-store Hinky Dinky chain.
 Schnuck's expanded into MO, IL and IN.
 Perry Drug Stores acquired the Apex Drugs chain.
 Mollie Stone's Markets was founded in Mill Valley, CA.
Hook's Drug Stores was acquired by Kroger.
1986 Pantry Pride sold its remaining stores to New York-based Gristedes Supermarkets.
A & P acquired New York based Shopwell, which includes 25 The Food Emporium stores.
Dominick's Finer Foods launched its Omni Superstore discount grocery warehouse stores in Orland Park, IL.
New York-based Waldbaum's is acquired by A & P.
Red Apple Group acquired New York-based Gristede's from Southland Corp.
Jumbo Food Stores changed its name to Shoppers Food Warehouse.
McCrory acquired TG&Y stores (720 stores).
Household Finance spun-off Vons.
Safeway sold its Southern California stores to Vons .
 Vons launched its Pavillions food & drug format stores and acquired Detroit-based Allied Supermarkets.
Lucky Stores closes its GEMCO and MEMCO discount department store chains.
Coborn's opened its first Little Dukes convenience store.
The last 32 Zody's stores are closed.
Kowalski's Markets is founded in White Bear Lake, MN.
Safeway is acquired by investment firm Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co .
 Thrifty Drug launched its Wonder World discount department stores.
Food Maxx was founded in Bakersfield, CA.
Farm Fresh merges with Giant Open Air Markets.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods launched its Carl's Superstores and Jay discount drugstores banners.
Big Y celebrates 50th anniversary with 21 stores.
Citicorp Capital Investors acquires Pamida Stores.
Kroger spun-off its Hook's-SupeRx chain as an independent company.
1987 Lucky Stores sold Yellow Front Stores in an effort to avoid a hostile takeover.
McCrory acquires all of Kmart's remaining S.S. Kresge and Jupiter stores in the US.
Indian LP (Maxway) purchased Danners, Inc. (3D Discount Stores).
TriBeCa Holdings Inc. acquired M.H. Lamston Stores.
Lucky Stores sold Eagle Food Stores to New York-based Odyssey Partners.
H-E-B launched a video rental chain later named H-E-B Video Central.
Megafoods is founded in Phoenix, AZ.
Redner's Markets launched its Redner's Wholesale Markets banner.
J. Sainsbury acquired Shaw's and Ianoli's supermarkets .
Cleveland, OH-based Cook United closed and liquidated its remaining discount department stores.
 Rite Aid acquired Gray Drug Stores from Sherwin Williams.
Pathmark initiates a leveraged buyout of the company in order to avoid a hostile takeover by the Dart Group.
Tops Markets is acquired through a leveraged buyout by a Texas investment group.
Safeway spun-off its Oklahoma division as in independent company which was later named Homeland.
1988 Lucky Stores sells Tampa, FL-based Kash 'n Karry to the store's senior managers.
Tampa, FL-based Kash 'n Karry acquires Florida Choice Supermarkets from Kroger.
American Stores Company (Acme Markets, Alpha Beta) purchased California-based Lucky Stores and Sav-On Drugs.
 Stop & Shop is acquired by investment firm Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts.
Penn Traffic Co. acquired P & C Foods.
Finast is acquired by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold.
New Jersey-based King's Super Markets was acquired by London based Marks & Spencer.
Big Bear Stores launches its Big Bear Plus hypermarkets in Wintersville, OH.
IGA expanded into Japan and Australia.
3D Discount Stores closed its stores and the company is liquidated.
 Red Food Stores sells its 45 store Kentucky based Houchens chain to the chains employees.
Filene's Basement is acquired by May Department Stores Co.
Ohio-based Fisher Foods is merged with Rini Stop-N-Shop, Rego Stop-N-Shop and American Seaway Foods.
Nash Finch annual sales reach $ 2 billion.
Perry Drug Stores sold its Auto Works chain
 Wal-Mart opens its first SuperCenter in Washington, MO.
Alabama-based Bruno's opens its first Vincent's gourmet store.
Thrifty Drugs acquired Pay 'n Save.
Wetterau repurchases Save-A-Lot from its founder.
Red Food Stores sells its 45 store Kentucky based Houchens chain to the chains employees.
The Brooks Pharmacy chain was acquired by Indiana-based Hook's-SupeRx.
1989 Tampa, FL-based Kash 'n Karry operated 100 supermarkets.
With 367 supermarkets, Publix annual sales surpass $ 5 billion.
F.W. Woolworth Co. acquired Champs Sports.
Michigan-based Farmer Jack is acquired by A & P.
McCrory sold its Bargain Time chain to a unit of Rapid-America and acquired the remaining 100 G.C. Murphy Co. stores from
      Ames Department Stores.
Penn Traffic Co. acquired Ohio-based Big Bear Stores.
Variety Wholesalers acquired 106 stores from Georgia-based Allied Stores.
K-VA-T purchased the TN-based, 43-store White Stores chain.
Spartan Stores acquired Associated Grocers and later renamed it Capistar.
Kmart entered into a joint venture with Alabama-based Bruno's supermarkets and launches American Fare hypermarkets.
Washington-based Haggen's is the first supermarket to open a Starbucks coffee shop in its store.

1990 - 1999
1990 The 11-store Alexander's Supermarkets chain is acquired by Hannafords.
SR Partners, Inc. acquired Sprouse-Reitz Stores.
Kmart acquired Sports Authority.
Minyard's launched its Carnival Food Stores Hispanic grocery stores.
Safeway acquires Alaska-based Carrs Quality Centers.
ShopKo opened its 100th store.
Variety Wholesalers acquired North Carolina-based Maxway stores.
Sav-A-Lot operated 247 stores.
Hornbacher's opens its first Hornbacher's Express convenience stores.
Buttrey managers acquired the company from American Stores Company.
Perry Drug Stores sold its A.L. Price discount drugstores chain.
J. Sainsbury acquired New England-based Edwards.
1991 Alpha Beta stores in OK, TX, NM and AR were converted to the American Store's Jewel-Osco banner.
Pathmark sold its Purity Supreme supermarkets to investment company Freeman Spogli & Co.
Kmart launched its Super Kmart combination discount department store/supermarket Medina, OH.
Sprouse-Reitz Stores renames its stores Sprouse!
Fleming Companies, Inc. acquired Arizona-based ABCO Foods.
Kmart acquired Office Max.
Scott's Foods is acquired by SuperValu.
ShopKo becomes an independent publicly held company.
New York-based Tops is acquired by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold.
SuperPetz pet stores is founded in Dayton, OH.
Due to an anti-trust suit, American Stores Co. is forced to sell its California-based Alpha Beta chain, 74 Jewel Stores in
     Texas and Florida and 59 drug stores.
The last Pantry Pride supermarket opened in Sunny Isles, FL by Gristedes.
Roundy's launches the limited assortment discount Mor For Less chain in IN, IL, KY, TN and MI.
Tops Markets launches its Tops International Super Center format stores.
1992 Canned Foods renames its stores Grocery Outlet.
Kmart acquired Border's Books.
Tom Thumb Stores and Simon David Stores merged with Randalls.
Bruno's supermarkets and Kmart end their American Fare joint venture.
Hannafords sold its Wellby Drug Stores chain to Rite Aid.
Bel-Air Markets is acquired by Raley's.
Tampa, FL-based Kash n' Karry purchased Save n' Pack supermarkets in Florida from Wetterau.
 SuperValu acquired St. Louis-based Wetterau (Shop 'n Save, Save-A-Lot, Laneco).
New York-based Alexander's Department Stores is closed and liquidated.
Variety Wholesalers acquired Alabama-based Bargain Town stores.
Riesbeck's launched its Mor For Less limited assortment banner in Ohio.
The North West Company of Canada acquired Alaska Commercial Co.
1993 All remaining Pantry Pride stores are closed.
Pathmark operates 146 supermarkets and 33 freestanding drug stores.
Kmart sold its Pace Membership Warehouse chain to Wal-Mart Corp.
Sprouse-Reitz Stores is liquidated.
Basha's acquired the Hispanic grocery chain Food City.
Penn Traffic Co. acquired Buffalo, NY-based Bell Markets (15 stores).
Red Apple Group acquired NY-based Sloan's Supermarkets and Southland Corp.
J. Sainsbury acquired the New England-based Star Market chain.
H-E-B Video Central is sold to Hollywood Entertainment.
Smart & Final expands into Mexico.
Perry Drug Stores re-acquired the 11-store A.L. Price discount drugstore chain.
1994 Pathmark sold its Rickel Home Centers chain.
All Detroit-area A & P stores are renamed Farmer Jack.
Produce Warehouse of Ronkonkoma (Best Yet Markets) opened its first store on Long Island, NY.
Hannafords acquired Wilson's Supermarkets (20 stores).
SuperValu acquires Cincinnati-based Bigg's.
Megafoods acquired San Antonio-based Handy Andy and soon after filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
H-E-B launched its Central Market gourmet grocery chain in San Antonio, TX.
Raley's launches its Food Source warehouse format stores in Folsom, CA.
Thrifty Drugs purchased PayLess Drug Stores.  The combines company is renamed Thrifty PayLess.
SC-based BI-LO acquires TN-based Red Food Stores.
Revco acquired Hook-SupeRx and sold the Brooks Pharmacy stores in New England to Canada-based Jean Coutu Group.
Arbor Drugs acquired the M&R drugstore chain.
Giant (Landover) launches its Super G supermarket banner as it expands into DE, NJ and PA.
Genovese Drugs launched The Craft Works arts and crafts stores in CT.
1995 ShopRite launches its PriceRite limited variety discount grocery chain in West Springfield, MA.
Stop & Shop acquires New England-based Purity Supreme from Pathmark.
A & P opens its first Food Basics store in Canada.
 Alabama-based Bruno's is acquired by investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) in a leveraged buyout.
California-based Grocery Outlet opens its 100th store.
Royal Ahold acquires Red Food Stores and New Jersey-based Mayfair Supermarkets.
The 1224 Corporation gains control of Giant Foods.
Dominick's Finer Foods is acquired by Los Angeles-based Yucaipa Companies.
Kmart sold its Sports Authority, Walden Books, Border's Books and Office Max chains.
Canada-based Loblaw's sells its St. Louis, MO-area National Food Stores stores to MO-based Schnuck's.
Schwegamnn's acquired the 28 New Orleans area National Food Stores locations from Loblaw's.
 All remaining National Food Stores stores are sold to other companies.
Texas-based Randall's acquires TX-based Tom Thumb.
New Jersey-based Grand Union emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with 230 stores.
Florida-based Winn Dixie acquired Ohio-based Thriftway Stores.
Arizona-based Megafoods closed its CA stores and was operating 50 stores in AZ, NV and TX.
Ohio-based Fresh Encounter acquired CWC Companies.
Rite Aid acquired Perry Drug Stores.
1996 Tampa, FL-based Kasn 'n Karry is acquired by Delhaize Group.
JC Penny acquired Eckerd Drugs and brought its Thrift Drug, Kerr Drugs and Fay's Drugs chains under the Eckerd banner.
The Finast name disappears as Royal Ahold merges it into its Tops and Edwards Super Foods divisions.
Dominick's Finer Foods launched its European style market format named Dominick's Fresh Stores.
Stop & Shop is acquired by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold.
Ralph's Supermarkets acquires San Francisco-based Cala Foods.
Smith's Food & Drug acquired Smitty's Big Town.
Kmart sold its Europe stores to Tesco and adds limited assortment grocery departments in its U.S. Big Kmart stores.
CitiCorp Capital Investors acquired Pamida.
Rosauer's opened its first Huckleberry's Natural Market.
Schwegmann's was sold to Kohlberg & Co.
 Riesbecks launched its Village Market fresh market format on Ohio.
California-based Vons is acquired by Safeway.
New York-based Fay's Drugs was acquired by JC Penney.
Revco acquired the Big B Drugs chain from Alabama-based Bruno's.
1997 Ben Franklin Stores, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 1996, is liquidated.
Promotions Unlimited purchased the Ben Franklin Stores name and began supplying the independently-owned stores.
F.W. Woolworth Co. closed all of its Woolworth stores in the US.
Red Apple Group renames all Sloan's supermarkets Gristede's.
Jitney Jungle acquired Delchamps stores.
 Fred Meyer acquired California-based Ralphs, Utah-based Smith's Foods & Drugs and Washington-based QFC.
Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle acquired Ohio-based Riser Foods (Fisher Foods).
Variety Wholesalers acquired Roses stores.
Bruno's acquires Seessel's food stores.
Jacks Discount Stores is acquired by ShopKo.
 Kmart launched its Big Kmart format in Chicago, IL.
Texas-based H-E-B expands into Mexico.
Fred Meyer acquires Salt Lake City-based Smith's Food & Drug.
North Carolina-based Lowes Foods acquired the Byrd's Food Stores chain.
Minneapolis-based Lunds acquired Byerly's.
Safeway acquires the Vons.
Kmart sold its Builder's Square home centers to Hechinger.
Michigan-based Spartan Stores acquires Ashcraft's Stores.
Arizona-based Megafoods sold its 20 remaining Handy Andy stores back to Frank Sepulveda.
Bashas acquires Megafoods.
CVS acquired Revco Drugs.
1998 Florida-based Eckerd Drugs acquired New York-based Genovese Drugs.
 Bruno's sells its Seessel's food stores to Albertsons.
Albertsons merged with American Stores Company (Acme Markets) to become the nation's largest supermarket chain.
Giant Eagle acquired International Seaway Foods.
Safeway acquires Chicago-based Dominick's Finer Foods.
Kroger acquired the 7-store, Rockford, IL Hilander Foods chain.
Giant Foods is acquired by Netherlands based Royal Ahold.
Fred Meyer acquired California-based Ralphs and Seattle-based QFC.
Schnuck Markets acquired Illinois-based Logli Stores.
Nob Hill Foods is acquired by Raley's.
Zeller's acquires Kmart's stores in Canada.
Richfood Holdings acquires Shoppers Food Warehouse.
New Jersey-based Foodtown files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and begins liquidating its assets.
Wal-Mart opens its first stand-alone supermarkets named Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets.
Scott's Stores acquires IN-based Kettsch Pharmacies.
Grand Union once again files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June and emerges in August.
Arbor Drugs was acquired by CVS.
Fresh Encounter acquired Fulmer Supermarkets.
Lewis Drug Stores acquired the 11 store Family Drug Stores chain.
 99 Cents Only was founded by David Gold in Southern California.
Largest U.S. Supermarket Chains - 1998
Company # of Stores % of US Sales Company # of Stores % of US Sales

1)  Kroger
2) Albertsons
3) Safeway
4) Royal Ahold
5) Wal-Mart
6) Winn Dixie
7) Publix
8) Dehhaize
9) Meijer
10) A & P

 2,300
1,700
1,650
1,065
720
1,200
650
1,400
1,130
570		 45
29
25.5
20
15
14
13
11
10
8

11) H-E-B
12) SuperValu
13) Shaw's
14) Pathmark
15) Hy-Vee
16) Raley's
17) Aldi USA
18) Wegmans
19) Grand Union

257
345
179
135
247
150
457
57
221

7.5
7
4
4
3.5
3
3
2.5
2.5
1999 Kroger acquired Fred Meyer making it the nation's largest food retailer.
Filene's Basement launched a weekend-only warehouse store named Aisle 3.
All Smitty's Big Town stores are renamed Fred Meyer.
SuperValu acquired VA-based Richfood Holdings (Farm Fresh, Metro stores and  Shoppers Food Warehouse).
Safeway acquires Texas-based Randalls and Tom Thumb stores.
Pay Less Super Markets and  is acquired by Kroger.
Deal$ dollar stores is founded in St. Louis, MO.
ShopKo acquires the 147-store Pamida chain.
Value City Department Stores acquired Filene's Basement.
LaCadena Investments acquires California-based Stater Bros..
Michigan-based Spartan Stores acquires Glen's Markets, Family Fare and Great Day Stores.
SuperValu acquires Virginia-based Richfood Holdings.
Bristol Farms acquires Chalet Gourmet in Hollywood,CA.
Clemens Family Markets opens its first open-air specialty format store named Foodsource by Clemens.
Brooks Pharmacy acquired Vermont-based City Drug.

2000 And Beyond
2000 Publix launched its Publix Pix convenience store chain.
 Winn Dixie launched its SaveRite grocery warehouse stores and acquired Jitney Jungle/Delchamps.
Safeway acquires the Philadelphia-based Genaurdi's.
Kessel Food Markets is acquired by Kroger.
Fred Meyer stores in Arizona are rebranded Fry's Marketplace.
Roundy's acquired the Ultra Mart and Mega Mart chains and renamed these stores Pick 'n Save.
 Delhaize Group acquired Hannafords.
Value City Department Stores acquired the DSW shoe store chain.
Spartan Stores merged with Seaway Food Town.
Rite Aid acquired Thrifty PayLess.
 Tops acquired the 87 unit Sugarcreek Stores convenience store chain.
Grand Union files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection for the 3rd time 5 years with 197 stores in 6 Northeastern states.
Fleming Co. sells its Nebraska-based Baker's chain to Kroger.
Fleming Co. sells 53 ABCO Desert Markets and 24 Sentry Foods to other retailers.
New Jersey-based Pathmark files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and emerges the same year.
Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle acquires Ohio-based Riser Foods and MD-based County Markets.
Royal Ahold renames its Edwards Super Food Stores to Stop & Shop.
Tops Markets acquires the 87 unit Sugarcreek convenience store chain and adds them to its Wilson Farms division.
BP acquired ARCO.
2001 Tampa, FL-based Kash 'n Karry is acquired by Delhaize Group.
A & P brings the Food Basics format to the U.S. with the opening of a store in Passaic, NJ.
Grand Union is acquired by C & S Wholesale Grocers.
IGA is the world's largest voluntary supermarket with over 4,000 independent stores in 48 states and 45 other countries.
McCrory closed all remaining stores and ceased operations.
Roundy's acquired Wisconsin-based Copps Food Centers.
Netherlands-based Royal Ahold acquired Bruno's and operates it under its BI-LO division.
Tops launched its Tops Xpress convenience stores/fuel centers and opens its 150 supermarket.
Food Lion operates 1,124 stores including the smaller Reid's chain of older, smaller stores in South Carolina.
SuperValu opened its 1,000 store.
Marsh Supermarkets acquires O'Malia's Food Markets.
Minnesota-based Nash Finch Co. acquires Nebraska-based U-Save Foods.
Fresh Brands acquired the 8 store, WI-based Dick's Supermarkets and brought them under the Piggly Wiggly banner.
Brooks Pharmacy acquired Osco Drug's New England Stores from Albertsons.
2002 Shop Rite acquires the New York-based Big V Supermarket chain (30 stores).
P & C Foods launched its P & C Fresh Market format in Fayetteville, NY.
Produce Warehouse of Ronkonkoma changes its name to Best Yet Markets.
Shop 'n Save stores are renamed Hannaford.
Albertsons sold its Sessel's supermarket chain to Schnucks.
Kowalski's Markets acquired the CJ's SuperValu chain in Minneapolis.
SuperValu acquired Deal$ dollar stores and pairs them with its Save-A-Lot stores to create combination stores.
Kmart files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Associated Wholesale Grocers (Kansas City) acquired the 44 store, Oklahoma-based Homeland Stores.
Missouri-based Schnuck's Markets acquired the 12-store Seessel chain from Albertsons.
2003 A & P exits Wisconsin as it sells its Madison area Kohl's Food Stores to Roundy's and closes its Kohl's Food Stores in
     Milwaukee.  A & P changes its Louisiana SuperFresh stores to its SAV-A-CENTER format.
Seattle, WA-based Chubby & Tubby's variety stores is liquidated.
Variety Wholesalers acquired Alabama-based Bonus Stores / Bill's Dollar Stores.
Eagle Food Stores ceased operations and closed its remaining stores.
Spartan Stores sold its Food Town grocery stores.
Delhaize Group acquired Georgia-based Harveys.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. launched its Sears Grand hypermarket format in West Jordan, UT.
Michigan-based Carter's celebrates 50th anniversary with 23 stores.
While operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Penn Traffic Co. liquidates its Big Bear chain.
SuperValu and C&S Wholesale Grocers enter into an asset exchange. SuperValu assets in the Northeast go to C&S while
     C&S assets in Midwest go to SuperValu.
Family Owned Markets is formed as an advertising group for Lancaster, PA-area supermarkets.
2004 Albertson's acquired Shaw's and Star Markets in New England.
Penn Traffic Co. sold all Big Bear Stores and Big Bear Plus stores to other companies.
Houchens acquired Food Giant.
A Texas-based private investment firm acquired Minyard's.
Hannafords purchased the 19 store, Massachusetts-based Victory Super Markets chain.
Fred Meyer stores in Utah are rebranded Smith's Marketplace.
Minneapolis-based Lunds acquires Rick's Markets.
Roundy's launched its Metro Market stores in Milwaukee, WI.
Food Lion launched its Bloom format stores.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. is acquired by Kmart.
 Spartan Stores changed the names of its Ashcraft's Markets, Great Day Food Centers and Prevo's Family Markets
          to either its Family Fare or Glen's Markets banners.
The Pantry Pride name resurfaces when an indepdently-owned supermarket opens in St. Mary's, OH.
Kmart acquires Sears Roebuck & Company and renames the company Sears Holdings Inc.
Winn Dixie closes 156 stores, mostly in the Midwest, including its Thriftway Stores in Ohio.
Martin's launched its Martins Super Food Stores banner with the opening of a store in New York.
JC Penny sold its east coast Eckerd Drug store to Brooks Pharmacy and its stores in the west to CVS.
2005 With over 800 supermarkets, Publix celebrated its 75th anniversary and is the largest company employee owned company in the
      US. Sales are over $ 20 billion and profit is almost $ 1 billion.
All Kash 'n Karry supermarkets are remodeled and renamed Sweetbay Supermarkets.
 Publix launched its Sabor Hispanic-themed supermarket chain in Kissimmee, FL.
Texas investment firm Lone Star Funds acquired Bruno's and BI-LO from Royal Ahold.
 Albertsons was acquired by Supervalu, CVS/pharmacy and an investment group led by Cerberus Capital Management.
ShopKo launched its ShopKo Express smaller format stores and was acquired by Sun Capital Partners.
 Food Lion launched its Bottom Dollar limited assortment grocery chain in North Carolina.
Wegmans closed its Bilt-Rite Chase-Pitkin building supply chain.
 Tops sold its convenience store chains to WFI Acquisition, Inc.
Giant (Carlisle) launches its Giant Super Food Store banner with the opening of a store in Pennsylvania.
With over 1,000 stores, Florida-based Winn Dixie files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Nash Finch Co. celebrates 100th anniversary with over 80 corporate-owned stores and over $ 4B in sales.
Florida-based Gooding's filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection.
 
25 Top U.S. Grocery Retailers By Sales Volume - 2005
1) Wal-Mart
2) Kroger
3) Costco Wholesale
4) Albertsons
5) Safeway		 6) Ahold
7) Publix
8) SuperValu
9) Delhaize
10) 7-Eleven		 11) Meijer
12) H-E-B
13) ShopRite
14) Winn Dixie
15) Dollar General		 16) BJ's Wholesale
17) A & P
18) Giant Eagle
19) Aldi
20) Hy-Vee		 21) Whole Foods
22) Trader Joe's
23) Wawa
24) Pathmark
25) Bruno's/BILO
2006 ShopRite is the largest retail cooperative in the United States and the largest private employer in New Jersey.
A & P acquired New Jersey-based Pathmark Supermarkets.  A & P revived Food Basics with a prototype store in Glassboro, NJ.
Publix launched its Publix GreenWise Markets chain of natural foods stores in Miami.
Ralph's sold the Cala and Bell stores chains to a previous manager of the Cala chain.
Michigan-based Carter's Foods filed for bankruptcy protection and the remaining 14 stores were closed.
SuperValu sold its Cub Foods chain and then sold its Deal$ stores to Dollar Tree stores.
Spartan Stores acquired D&W Food Centers.
Pennsylvania-based Giant acquired the Clemens Family Market chain.
SuperValu opens its first Sunflower Market natural foods format stores.
Shultz Sav-O Stores merged with Certified Grocers Midwest.
Delhaize Group operates 2,640 retail stores under more than 20 banners in the U.S. and 7 countries in Europe and Asia.
Seattle, WA-based Larry's Markets filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections and is sold to several different buyers.
 Winn Dixie sells its Bahamas City Market stores and emerges from Chapter 11 with 587 stores in FL, GA, AL and LA.
The Lucky Stores name and logo reappears when Berkeley, CA-based Grocery Outlet renames one of its stores.
SuperValu sues Grocery Outlet for trademark infringement and begins renaming some of its CA and Las Vegas
          stores with the Lucky Stores name and logo.
Vons celebrates 100th anniversary with 325 Vons stores in Southern California and Nevada and 32 Pavillions
          stores in Southern California.
SuperValu sells most of its Pittsburgh area Shop 'n Save stores to independent owners.
Clemens Family Markets sells all of its stores:  14 to Giant  (Carlisle) and 6 to C&S Wholesale Grocers.
Michigan-based Carter's files for bankruptcy protection and closes its remaining 14 stores.
Rite Aid acquired Brooks Pharmacy and Eckerd Drugs.
UK-based Tesco launched its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets chain in the U.S.
25 Top U.S. Grocery Retailers By Sales Volume - 2006
1) Wal-Mart
2) Kroger
3) Costco Wholesale
4) Safeway
5) SuperValu		 6) Ahold
7) Publix
8) Delhaize
9) 7-Eleven
10) Meijer		 11) H-E-B
12) ShopRite
13) Dollar General
14) BJ's Wholesale
15) Albertsons LLC		 16) Winn Dixie
17) A & P
18) Giant Eagle
19) Whole Foods
20) Aldi		 21) Hy-Vee
22) Wawa
23) Pathmark
24) Wegmans
25) Roundy's
2007 Publix opened a Carrabba's Italian Market in Sarasota, FL in conjunction with the Carrabba's Italian Grill chain.
A & P closes its Farmer Jack chain and exits the Michigan market.
Spartan Stores acquired Felpausch Food Centers.
California-based Unified Grocers acquired Associated Grocers of Seattle.
The Lucky name reappears in San Francisco area when Save Mart remodels and renames 72 former Albertsons stores.
25 Top U.S. Grocery Retailers By Sales Volume - 2007
1) Wal-Mart
2) Kroger
3) Costco Wholesale
4) SuperValu
5) Safeway		 6) Publix
7) Ahold
8) Delhaize
9) 7-Eleven
10) Meijer		 11) H-E-B
12) ShopRite
13) A & P
14) Dollar General
15) BJ's Wholesale		 16) Winn Dixie
17) Giant Eagle
18) Whole Foods
19) Trader Joe's
20) Albertsons LLC		 21) Aldi
22) Hy-Vee
23) Save Mart
24) Wawa
25) Wegmans

 
2008 Stater Bros. operates 183 supermarkets in Southern California.
SuperValu closed its Sunflower Market natural foods chain.

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