Genuardi's
Encyclopedia
Genuardi's is a chain of supermarkets
located in the Northeastern United States
. Genuardi's was family-owned until it was purchased by Safeway
in 2000. Genuardi's has its headquarters in the Bentwood Executive Campus in East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
.
and grew fruits and vegetables. The couple went around to their neighbors delivering the quality produce to them. Gaspare had a strong sense of customer service which is the cornerstone of Genuardi's. Gaspare and Josphine were the parents of nine children. Of the nine were Charlie, Frank, Tom, Joe, and Jim who helped out with the business and keeping the tradition of customer service alive as their father showed. The five sons soon became known as the "Genuardi brothers" by the customers.
in 1954, which is today the oldest surviving Genuardi's in operation. The Genuardi family also maintains a nursery and florist in Norristown.
, Delaware
, Chester
, and Montgomery
counties. The company has never had any stores within Philadelphia city limits. In 1975, it acquired some former Pantry Pride (originally known as Food Fair) and A&P
stores, and more ex-A&P properties rejected by Super Fresh
in 1985.
and New Jersey
.
were converted to the Safeway banner when they were unionized. Safeway already had stores of its own in southern Delaware. There were issues and local outrage over the Safeway takeover due to claims of price increases, the changeover of many products to Safeway's own brands, and the use of a loyalty card
, which was not needed under Genuardi's previous ownership. Except for the Safeway conversions, Genuardi's has remained non-union, despite heavy unionization in Safeway's other chains.
was added to select Genuardi's stores. This allows customers to order groceries via the Genuardi's/Safeway websites and have it delivered by truck in a set timeframe.
In 2006, Safeway modified the previous 1996 Genuardi's logo by moving the decorative "G" to the other side of the wordmark, and introduced a new slogan, "Ingredients For Life". This slogan is used across all of Safeway Inc's. divisions, following a massive campaign of remodeling and upgrading their stores to Safeway's "lifestyle" format. In June 2006, it was announced that any remaining store-branded products carrying the Genuardi's name except fresh bread would be removed by 2007 in favor of the Safeway Select brand.
During 2010, underperforming Genuardi's stores did not have their leases renewed and Safeway closed store locations in Newtown Square
(Edgmont), Glen Mills
, Chesterbrook
, and Lansdale
in Pennsylvania, and Voorhees in New Jersey.
In September 2011 Food Trade News reported that Safeway was looking to sell all or part of Genuardi's. Later in September Supermarket News reported that a sale of a number of Genuardi's locations to Giant-Carlisle appeared to be imminent.
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...
located in the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
. Genuardi's was family-owned until it was purchased by Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
in 2000. Genuardi's has its headquarters in the Bentwood Executive Campus in East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
East Norriton Township is a census-designated place and township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,590 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Norriton Township is located at ....
.
Beginning
In 1920 Gaspare and Josephine Genuardi owned a farm near Norristown, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and grew fruits and vegetables. The couple went around to their neighbors delivering the quality produce to them. Gaspare had a strong sense of customer service which is the cornerstone of Genuardi's. Gaspare and Josphine were the parents of nine children. Of the nine were Charlie, Frank, Tom, Joe, and Jim who helped out with the business and keeping the tradition of customer service alive as their father showed. The five sons soon became known as the "Genuardi brothers" by the customers.
The First Supermarket
The Genuardi family opened its first supermarket in Norristown, PennsylvaniaNorristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
in 1954, which is today the oldest surviving Genuardi's in operation. The Genuardi family also maintains a nursery and florist in Norristown.
1950s, 1960s, and 1970s
The five Genuardi brothers expanded their supermarkets throughout the western Philadelphia suburbs, spanning BucksBucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, Delaware
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
, Chester
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, and Montgomery
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
counties. The company has never had any stores within Philadelphia city limits. In 1975, it acquired some former Pantry Pride (originally known as Food Fair) and 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...
stores, and more ex-A&P properties rejected by Super Fresh
Super Fresh
Super Fresh is a chain of supermarkets owned by A&P, which introduced the banner in 1982, converting its Mid-Atlantic region's stores to the new name. Super Fresh's 24 stores are mostly in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, plus Delaware and southern New Jersey...
in 1985.
1980s, 1990s, and 2000
The chain's first surviving stores outside Norristown opened in the 1980s. As the 1990s approached, the five brothers decided to transfer ownership of the stores to a third generation of family, which consist of Jim Jr., Joe Jr., Charles A., Larry, Tom Jr., Michael, Anthony, Skip, and David Genuardi. Charles A. was named President/CEO of Genuardi's Family Markets. Also during this time, it owned a discount grocery chain called Mad Grocer. In the late 1990s, the company expanded into DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and 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...
.
Safeway buyout of Genuardi's Family Markets
In December 2000, news spread that the Genuardi family had sold the chain to Safeway. In summer 2004, all Genuardi's stores in DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
were converted to the Safeway banner when they were unionized. Safeway already had stores of its own in southern Delaware. There were issues and local outrage over the Safeway takeover due to claims of price increases, the changeover of many products to Safeway's own brands, and the use of a loyalty card
Loyalty program
Loyalty programs are structured marketing efforts that reward, and therefore encourage, loyal buying behavior — behavior which is potentially beneficial to the firm....
, which was not needed under Genuardi's previous ownership. Except for the Safeway conversions, Genuardi's has remained non-union, despite heavy unionization in Safeway's other chains.
2000s
In 2005, grocery deliveryDelivery (commerce)
Delivery is the process of transporting goods. Most goods are delivered through a transportation network. Cargo are primarily delivered via roads and railroads on land, shipping lanes on the sea and airline networks in the air...
was added to select Genuardi's stores. This allows customers to order groceries via the Genuardi's/Safeway websites and have it delivered by truck in a set timeframe.
In 2006, Safeway modified the previous 1996 Genuardi's logo by moving the decorative "G" to the other side of the wordmark, and introduced a new slogan, "Ingredients For Life". This slogan is used across all of Safeway Inc's. divisions, following a massive campaign of remodeling and upgrading their stores to Safeway's "lifestyle" format. In June 2006, it was announced that any remaining store-branded products carrying the Genuardi's name except fresh bread would be removed by 2007 in favor of the Safeway Select brand.
During 2010, underperforming Genuardi's stores did not have their leases renewed and Safeway closed store locations in Newtown Square
Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Newtown Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States . Newtown Township is the oldest township in Delaware County. The population was 11,700 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
(Edgmont), Glen Mills
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
Glen Mills is an unincorporated community in Concord Township and Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States about 17 miles from Philadelphia. Glen Mills is known for its gardens and its golf course. Major offices including Deloitte with a headcount of about 100 people...
, Chesterbrook
Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Chesterbrook is a census-designated place in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,589 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Chesterbrook is located at ....
, and Lansdale
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
in Pennsylvania, and Voorhees in New Jersey.
In September 2011 Food Trade News reported that Safeway was looking to sell all or part of Genuardi's. Later in September Supermarket News reported that a sale of a number of Genuardi's locations to Giant-Carlisle appeared to be imminent.