Retailer Profiles : A & P / Tengelmann
Profile Pages such as this one on the site will be dedicated to providing specific information on individual companies that are leaders in the food retailing industry. ( As a reminder, this is a personal website with no direct affiliation to any company )
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company ( A & P ) :
◊ The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company better known as A&P are a majority owned subsidiary of the German retail conglomerate the Tengelmann Group who operate over 7,000 stores in 15 countries around the world under 7 different formats / banners.
◊ Made up of two divisions in North America, A&P U.S. has over 465 stores operating in 10 states under 9 different banners that account for 75% of their overall company sales. The Canadian division A&P Canada operates over 180 corporate stores and over 60 franchise stores exclusively in the province of Ontario under 5 banners including A&P, Dominion and Food Basics.
In July of 2005 the Canadian division was finally sold to Metro Inc. after months of speculation on a possible sale of the assets. Loblaws wasn't able to bid on them and Sobeys could not work out a deal satisfactory to their needs.
◊ In the U.S. and Canada A&P employs over 78,000 people ; globally the Tengelmann Group has over 183,000 employees.
◊ Links to A&P's operations in the U.S. and Canada :
A&P Corporate A&P SuperMarkets Waldbaums Farmer Jack Sav-A-Center
Super Food Mart New England Food Emporium A&P Canada Food Basics
◊ Links to Tengelmann's international operations :
Zielpunkt Austria Plus Supermarkets - Spain Plus - Hungary Plus Discount - Poland
OBI - Germany OBI - Czech Republic OBI - Austria OBI - Poland OBI - China
KIK - Germany Kaisers / A&P - Germany KD - Germany Interfruct Cash & Carry - Hungary
Interfruct Cash & Carry - Slovakia
Did You Know ?
◊ The splitting of the North American A&P into the U.S. and Canadian divisions came after several years of losses by the overall company. U.S. operations show sales and net losses where Canadian operations show increased sales and profit and is more highly regarded by their German parent company. Now with the purchase of Canadian operations by Metro Inc., they will have a 16% share of that company as part of the deal.
◊ Using the Canadian model of the Food Basics stores, A&P hopes to revitalize their American results by introducing more of these format stores in the U.S. ( I've never been to one of these stores...could this be their version of the Loblaws No Frills banner ? )
◊ At one point in their history in the U.S. alone, they operated over 16,000 stores across the country and were the leading U.S. food retailer up until the mid / late 1970's.
For a unique insight into the A&P Company, check out the following link : Gaptitude . The site is done by a current long time employee of A&P and provides insights, thoughts and opinions into their past, present and future and even includes a Manager's Handbook from 1944. ( Thanks Doug for the assistance and support ! )