A&P: The Grocery Empire That Changed America
A&P grocery stores were once as ubiquitous as McDonald’s, Google, and Walmart are today. In fact, The Wall Street Journal once dubbed A&P “the Walmart before Walmart.” For sixty years, A&P was the largest grocery retailer in the United States. Their success and sheer market domination stemmed from innovation, efficiency, and marketing genius.
From Tea Shop to National Chain
It all began in 1859 when George Huntington Hartford and George Gilman started a mail-order tea business from a small storefront and warehouse in New York City. After a decade of steady growth, the company was renamed The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company in 1870.
During the 1880s, Hartford’s sons joined the business and began marketing the company’s first private-label brands, including the famous Eight O’Clock Coffee. By the dawn of the new century, A&P had already expanded to more than 200 stores.
Reinventing Grocery Shopping
In the early 20th century, grocery shopping looked very different from today. A typical corner grocery store was tiny—about 20 by 30 feet. There were no carts; instead, customers gave their shopping lists to the shopkeeper, who would gather the items from the shelves. Most stores offered only canned goods, root vegetables, and bulk staples like flour, sugar, and vinegar. Meat, baked goods, and fresh produce had to be bought separately from specialty shops. Shopping was a slow, inconvenient process.
That’s where A&P saw its opportunity. In 1912, the company opened its first Economy Store with a simple goal: to cut costs, standardize store layouts, and eliminate credit accounts and home delivery. Within eight years, A&P had become the largest retailer in the world.
The Power of Innovation
So how did they do it? At first, they stocked only fast-selling items, eliminating products that didn’t move. Stores operated with limited hours and just one employee. Customers quickly realized they could save money by shopping at A&P. By 1930, the Hartford family had opened nearly 16,000 stores, many of which grew larger in size.
In 1936, A&P introduced the self-serve supermarket concept, opening 4,000 bigger stores that carried a wider range of products—meat, dairy, and more. Then came their boldest move yet: vertical integration. A&P began buying bakeries, canneries, dairy plants, and even salmon fisheries. They owned fishing fleets and ran their own factories. Controlling both the supply chain and retail stores allowed A&P to dominate the market, cut costs, and pass those savings on to customers.
Marketing Genius and Cultural Impact
A&P’s marketing was equally brilliant. The company published its own magazine, Woman’s Day, which featured meal ideas and recipes—all promoting A&P’s own products. It was an early example of branded content marketing, and it worked beautifully.
For six decades—from 1915 to 1975—A&P remained the largest grocery retailer in America. Until 1965, it was even the largest U.S. retailer of any kind. But eventually, its rapid growth and dominance became unsustainable. Both John and George Hartford passed away in the 1950s, and their heirs lacked the same passion for the business.
The Decline of a Giant
By the mid-20th century, competitors were opening large, modern supermarkets with new features that outshined A&P’s aging stores. By the 1970s, many A&P locations felt outdated. Operating costs were high, customer service suffered, and the company struggled to adapt.
In 1975, outside management was brought in to save the brand. Some older stores closed while newer ones opened, but the turnaround failed. Eventually, the Hartford family sold their shares to a German-based business group. Over the following decades, A&P continued to shrink—closing stores, acquiring others, and changing ownership repeatedly.
By November 2015, after filing for its second bankruptcy, all A&P stores had been closed or sold.
A&P’s Lasting Legacy
Even so, A&P remains a landmark in American retail history. The company revolutionized the way Americans buy their groceries, making shopping faster, cheaper, and more convenient. And for many, A&P’s legacy still lingers—the smell of freshly ground Eight O’Clock Coffee, the friendly neighborhood butcher, and the warmth of a familiar bakery.
