SIC 5411

Grocery Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

128companies1783–1993founding years122still active6no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Yucaipa Cos.
Active
Yucaipa Cos.
Yucaipa Cos.
Active
Yucaipa Cos.
The North West Company, Inc.
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
The North West Company, Inc.
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
Penn Traffic Company
Active · founded 1854
Penn Traffic Company is one of the leading food retailers in the eastern United States.
Penn Traffic Company
Active · founded 1854
Penn Traffic Company is one of the leading food retailers in the eastern United States.
Smart & Final, Inc.
Active · founded 1871
Smart & Final, Inc.
Smart & Final, Inc.
Active · founded 1871
Smart & Final, Inc.
AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG)
Active · founded 1892 · Germany
Active throughout Germany and in the Netherlands, AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG) is one of…
AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG)
Active · founded 1892 · Germany
Active throughout Germany and in the Netherlands, AVA AG (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG) is one of…
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Active · founded 1894 · United Kingdom
Marks and Spencer p.l.c.
Comptoirs Modernes S.A.
Active · founded 1896 · France
Of the leading independent food retailers in France, Comptoirs Modernes S.A.
Comptoirs Modernes S.A.
Active · founded 1896 · France
Of the leading independent food retailers in France, Comptoirs Modernes S.A.
Hannaford Bros. Co.
Active · founded 1902
Hannaford Bros.
Hannaford Bros. Co.
Active · founded 1902
Hannaford Bros.
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1911
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1911
Schultz Sav-O Stores, Inc.
Guyenne et Gascogne
Active · founded 1913 · France
Guyenne et Gascogne is engaged in retail commercial distribution, with a primary focus on food products through the…
Guyenne et Gascogne
Active · founded 1913 · France
Guyenne et Gascogne is engaged in retail commercial distribution, with a primary focus on food products through the…
Piggly Wiggly Southern, Inc.
Active · founded 1919
Food retailer Piggly Wiggly Southern, Inc.
Piggly Wiggly Southern, Inc.
Active · founded 1919
Food retailer Piggly Wiggly Southern, Inc.
The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co.
Active · founded 1920
With its chain of 11 Acme supermarkets, nine Acme SuperCenters (which combine general merchandise and grocery items),…
The Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co.
Active · founded 1920
With its chain of 11 Acme supermarkets, nine Acme SuperCenters (which combine general merchandise and grocery items),…
Coles Myer Ltd.
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Coles Myer Ltd.
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Dillon Companies Inc.
Active · founded 1921
Dillon Companies Inc.
Dillon Companies Inc.
Active · founded 1921
Dillon Companies Inc.
Waldbaum, Inc.
Active · founded 1921
Waldbaum, Inc.
Waldbaum, Inc.
Active · founded 1921
Waldbaum, Inc.
J Sainsbury plc
Active · founded 1922 · United Kingdom
Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other grocery outlets clustered tightly in the south of England form the nucleus of…
J Sainsbury plc
Active · founded 1922 · United Kingdom
Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other grocery outlets clustered tightly in the south of England form the nucleus of…
Brookshire Grocery Company
Active · founded 1928
The Brookshire Grocery Company operates more than 100 supermarkets in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Brookshire Grocery Company
Active · founded 1928
The Brookshire Grocery Company operates more than 100 supermarkets in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
Active · founded 1930
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
Active · founded 1930
King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.
Lucky Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1931
Lucky Stores, Inc.
Lucky Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1931
Lucky Stores, Inc.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1931
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1931
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
The Golub Corporation
Active · founded 1932
"Successful, innovative, and civic-minded" are terms that describe well The Golub Corporation of Schenectady, New York.
The Golub Corporation
Active · founded 1932
"Successful, innovative, and civic-minded" are terms that describe well The Golub Corporation of Schenectady, New York.
Big Bear Stores Co.
Active · founded 1933
Big Bear Stores Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Penn Traffic Co., is a regional grocery chain operating 65…
Big Bear Stores Co.
Active · founded 1933
Big Bear Stores Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Penn Traffic Co., is a regional grocery chain operating 65…
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.
Active · founded 1933
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.
Active · founded 1933
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.
Meijer Incorporated
Active · founded 1934
Meijer Incorporated, according to Forbes magazine,"is one of the 15 largest growing private companies" in the United…
Meijer Incorporated
Active · founded 1934
Meijer Incorporated, according to Forbes magazine,"is one of the 15 largest growing private companies" in the United…
Associated British Foods plc
Active · founded 1935 · United Kingdom
With high-ranking positions in several categories of foodstuffs, Associated British Foods plc (ABF) stands as one of…
Associated British Foods plc
Active · founded 1935 · United Kingdom
With high-ranking positions in several categories of foodstuffs, Associated British Foods plc (ABF) stands as one of…
Giant Food Inc.
Active · founded 1935
From its Depression-era beginnings as Giant Food Shopping Center Inc., Giant Food Inc.
Giant Food Inc.
Active · founded 1935
From its Depression-era beginnings as Giant Food Shopping Center Inc., Giant Food Inc.
El Corte Inglés Group
Active · founded 1940 · Spain
El Corte Inglés, S.A.
El Corte Inglés Group
Active · founded 1940 · Spain
El Corte Inglés, S.A.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
P&C Foods Inc.
Active · founded 1941
P&C Foods Inc.
P&C Foods Inc.
Active · founded 1941
P&C Foods Inc.
Big V Supermarkets, Inc.
Active · founded 1942
Operator of a leading supermarket chain in the northeastern United States, Big V Supermarkets, Inc.
Big V Supermarkets, Inc.
Active · founded 1942
Operator of a leading supermarket chain in the northeastern United States, Big V Supermarkets, Inc.
Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc.
Active · founded 1946
Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc., one of the largest, privately owned grocery chains in the nation, operates in…
Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc.
Active · founded 1946
Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc., one of the largest, privately owned grocery chains in the nation, operates in…
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. (Royal Ahold)
Active · founded 1948 · The Netherlands
Koninklijke Ahold N.V.
Koninklijke Ahold N.V. (Royal Ahold)
Active · founded 1948 · The Netherlands
Koninklijke Ahold N.V.
Hughes Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1952
A respected operator in the southern California supermarket industry, Hughes Markets, Inc.
Hughes Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1952
A respected operator in the southern California supermarket industry, Hughes Markets, Inc.
DeMoulas / Market Basket Inc.
Active · founded 1954
DeMoulas / Market Basket Inc.
DeMoulas / Market Basket Inc.
Active · founded 1954
DeMoulas / Market Basket Inc.
Quality Food Centers, Inc.
Active · founded 1954
The largest independent supermarket chain in the Seattle/Puget Sound area of Washington State, Quality Food Centers,…
Quality Food Centers, Inc.
Active · founded 1954
The largest independent supermarket chain in the Seattle/Puget Sound area of Washington State, Quality Food Centers,…
Village Super Market, Inc.
Active · founded 1955
Village Super Market, Inc., ranks among the top 100 grocery store companies in the United States.
Village Super Market, Inc.
Active · founded 1955
Village Super Market, Inc., ranks among the top 100 grocery store companies in the United States.
Cumberland Farms, Inc.
Active · founded 1957
Founded in 1938 as a one-cow dairy farm, Cumberland Farms, Inc.
Cumberland Farms, Inc.
Active · founded 1957
Founded in 1938 as a one-cow dairy farm, Cumberland Farms, Inc.
Groupe Promodès S.A.
Active · founded 1957 · France
With 11 percent of the French market, Groupe Promodès S.A.
Groupe Promodès S.A.
Active · founded 1957 · France
With 11 percent of the French market, Groupe Promodès S.A.
The Daiei, Inc.
Defunct · founded 1957 · Japan
The Daiei, Inc.
The Daiei, Inc.
Defunct · founded 1957 · Japan
The Daiei, Inc.
Dart Group Corporation
Active · founded 1960
Dart Group Corporation, a pioneer in discount marketing and in the concept of "superstores," is a holding company for…
Dart Group Corporation
Active · founded 1960
Dart Group Corporation, a pioneer in discount marketing and in the concept of "superstores," is a holding company for…
Harris Teeter Inc.
Active · founded 1960
Harris Teeter Inc.
Harris Teeter Inc.
Active · founded 1960
Harris Teeter Inc.
Inserra Supermarkets
Active · founded 1961
Inserra Supermarkets operates approximately two dozen grocery stores, licensed under the ShopRite name, in New Jersey…
Inserra Supermarkets
Active · founded 1961
Inserra Supermarkets operates approximately two dozen grocery stores, licensed under the ShopRite name, in New Jersey…
Ingles Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1963
Ingles Markets, Inc.
Ingles Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1963
Ingles Markets, Inc.
Western Beef, Inc.
Active · founded 1963
Western Beef, Inc.
Western Beef, Inc.
Active · founded 1963
Western Beef, Inc.
Lund Food Holdings, Inc.
Active · founded 1964
Lund Food Holdings, Inc.
Lund Food Holdings, Inc.
Active · founded 1964
Lund Food Holdings, Inc.
American Stores Company
Defunct · founded 1965
Built largely through the drive and ambition of one family, American Stores Company has developed into one of the…
American Stores Company
Defunct · founded 1965
Built largely through the drive and ambition of one family, American Stores Company has developed into one of the…
Wawa Inc.
Active · founded 1968
With 515 outlets in 1996, Wawa Inc.
Wawa Inc.
Active · founded 1968
With 515 outlets in 1996, Wawa Inc.
Discount Drug Mart, Inc.
Active · founded 1969
Discount Drug Mart, Inc.
Discount Drug Mart, Inc.
Active · founded 1969
Discount Drug Mart, Inc.
Red Apple Group, Inc.
Active · founded 1970
Under the names Gristede's, Sloan's, and Red Apple, Red Apple Group, Inc., wholly owned by John A.
Red Apple Group, Inc.
Active · founded 1970
Under the names Gristede's, Sloan's, and Red Apple, Red Apple Group, Inc., wholly owned by John A.
Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1972
Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc.
Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1972
Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc.
Pinault-Printemps-Redoute S.A.
Active · founded 1972 · France
Pinault-Printemps-Redoute S.A.
Pinault-Printemps-Redoute S.A.
Active · founded 1972 · France
Pinault-Printemps-Redoute S.A.
GIB Group
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
GIB Group
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
Travel Ports of America, Inc.
Active · founded 1979
Travel Ports of America, Inc., operates around-the-clock, full-service travel plazas that provide customers with motor…
Travel Ports of America, Inc.
Active · founded 1979
Travel Ports of America, Inc., operates around-the-clock, full-service travel plazas that provide customers with motor…
Uni-Marts, Inc.
Active · founded 1981
Uni-Marts, Inc., is the ninth-largest convenience store chain in the United States in sales and among the top 100 U.S.
Uni-Marts, Inc.
Active · founded 1981
Uni-Marts, Inc., is the ninth-largest convenience store chain in the United States in sales and among the top 100 U.S.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1984
Wild Oats Markets, Inc., is the second largest natural foods grocery chain in the United States.
Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
Active · founded 1984
Wild Oats Markets, Inc., is the second largest natural foods grocery chain in the United States.
E-Z Serve Corporation
Active · founded 1986
As the seventh largest convenience store operator in the United States, E-Z Serve Corporation owns and operates 737…
E-Z Serve Corporation
Active · founded 1986
As the seventh largest convenience store operator in the United States, E-Z Serve Corporation owns and operates 737…
Harry's Farmers Market Inc.
Active · founded 1987
Harry's Farmers Market Inc.
Harry's Farmers Market Inc.
Active · founded 1987
Harry's Farmers Market Inc.
Megafoods Stores Inc.
Active · founded 1987
Megafoods Stores Inc.
Megafoods Stores Inc.
Active · founded 1987
Megafoods Stores Inc.
Riser Foods, Inc.
Active · founded 1988
Riser Foods, Inc., a holding company, controls northeast Ohio's largest grocery chain.
Riser Foods, Inc.
Active · founded 1988
Riser Foods, Inc., a holding company, controls northeast Ohio's largest grocery chain.
Peapod, Inc.
Active · founded 1989
Peapod, Inc.
Peapod, Inc.
Active · founded 1989
Peapod, Inc.
Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co.
Active · founded 1990
The largest operator of food and drug stores in Montana, Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co.
Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co.
Active · founded 1990
The largest operator of food and drug stores in Montana, Buttrey Food & Drug Stores Co.
Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.
Active · founded 1990
The leading food and drug retailer in Alaska, Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.
Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.
Active · founded 1990
The leading food and drug retailer in Alaska, Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.
Pathmark Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1993
The largest retailer in the Northeast operating under a single trade name, Pathmark Stores, Inc.
Pathmark Stores, Inc.
Active · founded 1993
The largest retailer in the Northeast operating under a single trade name, Pathmark Stores, Inc.
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