supermarket
A supermarket is a self-service Retail#Types of outlets, shop offering a wide variety of food, Drink, beverages and Household goods, household products, organized into sections. Strictly speaking, a supermarket is larger and has a wider selecti ...
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and its
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
suburbs. The company currently operates twenty supermarkets.
The name previously belonged to a chain of stores run by A&P, based largely in the cities and suburbs of
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
,
Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
, and
Washington DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
.
History
A&P ownership (1982–2015)
A&P and its unionized employees created the supermarket brand in 1982 and converted its Mid-Atlantic region stores to the new name. Employees were offered profit-sharing benefits and given more control over individual stores, allowing the local market to more directly affect a store's offerings.
By 1986, SuperFresh stores were located in the
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
area,
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, southern
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
,
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, and northern
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. SuperFresh stores also operated in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge ( ; , ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It had a population of 227,470 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Louisiana, Louisiana's second-m ...
, until 2003, when they were rebranded to A&P's
Sav-A-Center
Sav-A-Center was a trade name owned by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company.
History
The Sav-A-Center name was first used for a chain of supermarkets in the greater New Orleans, Louisiana, area starting in the 1980s. The division operated thr ...
banner. In December 1994, A&P Canada converted five locations to low-cost versions of the SuperFresh concept. Another 20 stores were converted in February 1995.
In 2006, A&P acquired six Clemens Family Markets, which were located in Montgomery and Bucks counties in suburban Philadelphia, converting them to the SuperFresh banner.
In 2007, A&P acquired the Pathmark supermarket chain. By June 2008, it announced plans to convert eight of the 13 Philadelphia-area SuperFresh stores to its new Pathmark Sav-A-Center banner. The company planned to renovate the remaining SuperFresh stores into its successful "Fresh" format (used in its A&P Fresh Markets). The change would re-position the Superfresh brand as an upscale banner.
Following its
Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, w ...
reorganization, A&P announced in early 2011 its intention to sell or close 32 stores across its six supermarket banners. Included in the group were eight SuperFresh stores and one former SuperFresh store in
Glasgow, Delaware
Glasgow is a census-designated place (CDP) in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 15,288 at the 2020 census.
History
During the American Revolution, it was known as Aikentown, named after tavern owner Matthew Aiken. ...
, which had just been converted to the Pathmark Sav-A-Center brand two years prior.
On April 13, 2011, A&P announced plans to close or sell 25 additional SuperFresh stores: 22 in Maryland, two in Delaware (Dover and Milford), and the only store in
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
After holding an auction in May, 13 stores were shut down because no buyer was found. These supermarkets closed by July 15 and were replaced by Shoppers Food & Pharmacy,
ShopRite
ShopRite is an American retailers' cooperative of supermarkets with stores in six states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York (state), New York and Pennsylvania.
Based in Keasbey, New Jersey, ShopRite consists of 50 individua ...
, and Fresh & Green's.
On November 14, 2012, A&P announced the closure of three
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
SuperFresh locations in Marlton, Westmont, and Plainsboro. These stores were liquidated in January 2013, leaving Manahawkin, Ocean City, and Wildwood as the only remaining stores in New Jersey.
On July 20, 2015, A&P announced that it was filing for bankruptcy for a second time.
Acme Markets
Acme Markets Inc. is a supermarket chain operating 159 stores throughout Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, the Hudson Valley of New York, and Pennsylvania and, as of 1998, is a subsidiary of Albertsons, and part of its presence in t ...
acquired 75 A&P, SuperFresh, and Pathmark stores across Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The company liquidated in late 2015, selling as many stores as possible to competitors, and closing the remainder. During this process, all Superfresh stores were either closed or re-bannered as
Acme
Acme is Ancient Greek (ἀκμή; English transliteration: ''akmē'') for "the peak", "zenith" or "prime". It may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and games
* ''Acme'' (album), an album by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
* Acme and Septimius, a fic ...
or
ShopRite
ShopRite is an American retailers' cooperative of supermarkets with stores in six states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York (state), New York and Pennsylvania.
Based in Keasbey, New Jersey, ShopRite consists of 50 individua ...
.
Key Food ownership (2016–present)
In February 2016, Key Food Stores acquired the trademark and rights to the SuperFresh brand name during the A&P bankruptcy auction. On March 11, 2016, Key Food relaunched the SuperFresh brand from their location in
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson ( ) is the largest City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.A&P during this time)
*We're Fresh... We're Super Fresh
*We're Fresh Obsessed
*I Love This Store! (2002–2010)
*You want lower prices, we hear you. (2010–2011)
*Better Store, Better Living. (2011–Present)
*The Savings Never Stop. Every Aisle, Every Item, Every Day. (2016–Present)