A&P Futurestore
Encyclopedia
Futurestore was an American
supermarket
chain owned and operated by A&P
. Futurestore was one of two concepts A&P launched during the 1980s (the other being Sav-A-Center
; also defunct), Futurestore's first supermarket was in the New Orleans area, where A&P converted two Kroger
stores it had acquired. The first conversion of an A&P to the Futurestore format was in New Jersey
in 1985.
The Futurestore concept spread to A&Ps in the southeastern US, plus its traditional Mid-Atlantic region, but, in the late 1980s, all Futurestores had been re-branded, or closed.
Futurestores typically offered the latest in gourmet departments and electronic services in exclusive neighborhoods. Futurestore's amenities were more gourmet- and specialty-oriented than found at a traditional A&P or Sav-A-Center supermarket. Futurestores also had more modern fixtures and machinery than A&Ps had at the time.
Since the concept was a failure, A&P phased out the Futurestore nameplate, closing some stores and converting others to A&P or Sav-A-Center. Many customers felt Futurestore did not have the same panache
of other upscale food retailers, which not only offered more gourmet products, but also cooked and delivered it . A&P, however, did not immediately change the interior of the Futurestores, unlike its Sav-A-Centers, after A&P began to rebrand them as A&P Food Markets in the 1990s. For example, the first New Jersey Futurestore left its atrium and interior unchanged after its conversion to an A&P Fresh Market, but discarded the remaining Futurestore attributes, including the glass atrium front.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chain owned and operated by A&P
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
. Futurestore was one of two concepts A&P launched during the 1980s (the other being Sav-A-Center
Sav-A-Center
Sav-A-Center was an A&P-owned chain of 20 supermarkets in the greater New Orleans, Louisiana area. The division operated throughout Louisiana, and had two stores in Mississippi...
; also defunct), Futurestore's first supermarket was in the New Orleans area, where A&P converted two Kroger
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
stores it had acquired. The first conversion of an A&P to the Futurestore format was in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1985.
The Futurestore concept spread to A&Ps in the southeastern US, plus its traditional Mid-Atlantic region, but, in the late 1980s, all Futurestores had been re-branded, or closed.
Distinguishing characteristics
Like its sibling supermarket, Sav-A-Center, A&P Futurestore was identified by its features and color scheme. The Futurestore interior was black and white, compared to the green and white of Sav-A-Center stores. Most Futurestores also had a glass atrium storefront. In addition, Futurestore signage featured pictograms, similar to those of European supermarkets.Futurestores typically offered the latest in gourmet departments and electronic services in exclusive neighborhoods. Futurestore's amenities were more gourmet- and specialty-oriented than found at a traditional A&P or Sav-A-Center supermarket. Futurestores also had more modern fixtures and machinery than A&Ps had at the time.
Since the concept was a failure, A&P phased out the Futurestore nameplate, closing some stores and converting others to A&P or Sav-A-Center. Many customers felt Futurestore did not have the same panache
Panache
Panache is a word of French origin that carries the connotation of a flamboyant manner and reckless courage.The literal translation is a plume, such as is worn on a hat or a helmet, but the reference is to King Henry IV of France...
of other upscale food retailers, which not only offered more gourmet products, but also cooked and delivered it . A&P, however, did not immediately change the interior of the Futurestores, unlike its Sav-A-Centers, after A&P began to rebrand them as A&P Food Markets in the 1990s. For example, the first New Jersey Futurestore left its atrium and interior unchanged after its conversion to an A&P Fresh Market, but discarded the remaining Futurestore attributes, including the glass atrium front.