Grocery

Albertsons Corporate Office

Albertsons was founded in 1939 by Joe Albertson in Boise, Idaho as Albertson’s Food Center. The original store had free parking, a money-back guarantee on products, and an ice cream parlor, all firsts at the time.

The company expands to Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Montana during the 1950s.

In 1959, the company goes public.

In 1964, the company expands to California with the acquisition of Greater All American Markets.

In 1976, the company begins building superstores and starts to phase out its traditional grocery locations.

In 1979, the first warehouse store is opened.

In 1992, the company acquires Jewel Osco and its 74 stores.

In 1999, the chain acquires American Stores Company in a huge acquisition deal.

In 2004, the company acquired both Shaw’s and Star Markets chains.

In 2006, the chain was acquired by SuperValu and taken private.

In 2013, the chain was acquired from SuperValu by Cerberus Capital Management.

Albertsons Companies include more than a dozen subsidiaries.

In October 2022, supermarket giant Kroger announced that it would acquire Albertsons Companies in a massive buyout for almost $25 billion.

Albertsons maintains a corporate office in Boise, Idaho.

Albertsons

The company expands to Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Montana during the 1950s.

History

In 1959, the company goes public.

In 1964, the company expands to California with the acquisition of Greater All American Markets.

In 1976, the company begins building superstores and starts to phase out its traditional grocery locations.

In 1979, the first warehouse store is opened.

In 1992, the company acquires Jewel Osco and its 74 stores.

In 1999, the chain acquires American Stores Company in a huge acquisition deal.

In 2004, the company acquired both Shaw’s and Star Markets chains.

In 2006, the chain was acquired by SuperValu and taken private.

In 2013, the chain was acquired from SuperValu by Cerberus Capital Management.

Albertsons Companies include more than a dozen subsidiaries.

In October 2022, supermarket giant Kroger announced that it would acquire Albertsons Companies in a massive buyout for almost $25 billion.

Albertsons maintains a corporate office in Boise, Idaho.

Wegmans Corporate Office

Wegmans began in 1916 as the Rochester Fruit and Vegetable Company. The company was founded by John and Walter Wegman. John began by using a pushcart to sell produce. then later he and his brother Walter pooled their savings to open a storefront.

In 1931, the brothers incorporated the business as Wegman’s Food Market and opened a self-service grocery.

In 1968, the company begins expanding. First in Syracuse, New York, later in Buffalo, New York.

In 1972, the company opens its first pharmacy inside a store.

In 1974, the company acquires Bilt-Rite Chase-Pitkin.

In 1986, Wegmans Federal Credit Union opens for business.

In 1993, the company opens its first store outside of New York in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The company quit selling tobacco products in 2008 and even offered stop smoking programs to their employees.

In 2009, Wegmans ranked 29th on the Supermarket News list of the Top 75 North American Food Retailers based on sales volume.

In June of 2017, the company partnered with Instacart to provide delivery of their Personal Shopper program.

Wegmans has appeared on Fortune’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list since the list first appeared in 1998. The company has continually ranked among the top 10 for eight consecutive years.

Today, Wegmans is still a family-owned regional supermarket with 95 stores in 6 states: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts. The company had annual revenue in 2016 of $8.3 billion.

Wegmans

History

In 1931, the brothers incorporated the business as Wegman’s Food Market and opened a self-service grocery.

In 1968, the company begins expanding. First in Syracuse, New York, later in Buffalo, New York.

In 1972, the company opens its first pharmacy inside a store.

In 1974, the company acquires Bilt-Rite Chase-Pitkin.

In 1986, Wegmans Federal Credit Union opens for business.

In 1993, the company opens its first store outside of New York in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The company quit selling tobacco products in 2008 and even offered stop smoking programs to their employees.

In 2009, Wegmans ranked 29th on the Supermarket News list of the Top 75 North American Food Retailers based on sales volume.

In June of 2017, the company partnered with Instacart to provide delivery of their Personal Shopper program.

Fresh and Easy Corporate Office

Fresh & Easy is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK giant Tesco. The chain started in 2007 when Tesco decided to move into the US market with a chain of small format stores in the Western US. The first three test markets were Las Vegas, Phoenix and Southern California.

By 2009, the company was losing a substantial amount of money.

In 2010, the chain announced they would be closing 13 stores temporarily.

As of 2011, there were 182 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.

In 2012, CEO Tim Mason resigns.

In 2013, Tesco announced plans to pull out of the US market. The Fresh & Easy chain currently has over 200 stores and is reportedly for sale.

Fresh and Easy

By 2009, the company was losing a substantial amount of money.

In 2010, the chain announced they would be closing 13 stores temporarily.

History

As of 2011, there were 182 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.

In 2012, CEO Tim Mason resigns.

In 2013, Tesco announced plans to pull out of the US market. The Fresh & Easy chain currently has over 200 stores and is reportedly for sale.

Food Lion Corporate Office

Food Lion was founded in 1957 by Wilson Smith and Ralph and Brown Ketner. The first store was called Food Town and it was located in Salisbury, North Carolina, where the headquarters still resides today.

The company name was changed to Food Lion in the early 1980s after the chain was acquired by Belgian grocer Delhaize.

The chain grew very quickly during the 80s and 90s, opening over 100 stores per year for much of that period.

In 1993, the company agreed to pay $16 million in damages after violating federal laws regarding overtime pay.

In 1994, the company closed 47 stores. This was the first of many major store closings.

Beginning in 2014, the company began remodeling 76 of their stores in the greater Wilmington and Greenville North Carolina areas. In 2015, plans were announced for remodeling of its 162 locations in the Raleigh, North Carolina market.

Although the company spent seven years attempting to establish a presence in Bangkok, Thailand, they were ultimately unsuccessful. The stores were operated locally by Bel-Thai Supermarket Co, and in 2004, Food Lion withdrew from the country, selling all branches to Tops Supermarkets.

In June of 2015, it was announced that Food Lion’s parent company, the Delhaize Group, and Ahold would merge into one company, Ahold Delhaize. This merger was completed in July 2016.

Today, Food Lion is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize. The company operates over 1100 stores in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Food Lion

History

The company name was changed to Food Lion in the early 1980s after the chain was acquired by Belgian grocer Delhaize.

The chain grew very quickly during the 80s and 90s, opening over 100 stores per year for much of that period.

In 1993, the company agreed to pay $16 million in damages after violating federal laws regarding overtime pay.

In 1994, the company closed 47 stores. This was the first of many major store closings.

In June of 2015, it was announced that Food Lion’s parent company, the Delhaize Group, and Ahold would merge into one company, Ahold Delhaize. This merger was completed in July 2016.

Giant Eagle Corporate Office

Giant Eagle was founded in 1918 as Eagle Grocery by 3 families: Porter, Chait, and Goldstein/Shapira.

In 1928, they sell the company to Kroger.

In 1931, after their non-compete had elapsed, those 3 families joined the Moravitz and Weizenbaum families to form Giant Eagle.

The company grew steadily in the ’30s and ’40s, despite the Great Depression.

The company expanded to Ohio in the 1980s with the acquisition of Youngstown-based Tamarkin.

In 1991, the Giant Eagle Advantage Card is introduced.

In 2000, the company enters the Columbus, Ohio market. They expand to Toledo the following year.

By 2008, the company had 23 stores in the Columbus market.

The company is the 49th largest retailer in the US, with annual revenue in 2011 of $9.3 billion and 36,000 full-time employees.

In 2017, the company rolled out a trial program called Food & Wine Fridays, where shoppers would purchase a wine glass and get free wine and food samples on Fridays.

Today, Giant Eagle operates 417 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland. They also operate 168 GetGo gas stations.

In March 2023, the company announced that it would replace CEO Laura Karet with long-time Giant Eagle employee Bill Artman.

Giant Eagle maintains a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Giant Eagle

Giant Eagle was founded in 1918 as Eagle Grocery by 3 families: Porter, Chait, and Goldstein/Shapira.

In 1928, they sell the company to Kroger.

History

In 1931, after their non-compete had elapsed, those 3 families joined the Moravitz and Weizenbaum families to form Giant Eagle.

The company grew steadily in the ’30s and ’40s, despite the Great Depression.

The company expanded to Ohio in the 1980s with the acquisition of Youngstown-based Tamarkin.

In 1991, the Giant Eagle Advantage Card is introduced.

In 2000, the company enters the Columbus, Ohio market. They expand to Toledo the following year.

By 2008, the company had 23 stores in the Columbus market.

The company is the 49th largest retailer in the US, with annual revenue in 2011 of $9.3 billion and 36,000 full-time employees.

In 2017, the company rolled out a trial program called Food & Wine Fridays, where shoppers would purchase a wine glass and get free wine and food samples on Fridays.

Today, Giant Eagle operates 417 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland. They also operate 168 GetGo gas stations.

In March 2023, the company announced that it would replace CEO Laura Karet with long-time Giant Eagle employee Bill Artman.

Giant Eagle maintains a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.