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 S