Food Basics is a no-frills supermarket chain operated by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) in the northeastern United States. The Food Basics concept began in Canada, where it was launched by A&P's Canadian subsidiary. The two chains are no longer connected, as the Canadian Food Basics is owned and operated by Metro Inc., which purchased A&P's Canadian stores. Food Basics (USA) carries all major national brands, as well as A&P's portfolio of private labels, including America's Choice, Master Choice, and Health Pride. Food Basics also offers brands usually not carried by A&P company stores.
In 2001, A&P brought the Food Basics concept to the US, changing its Passaic, New Jersey store from A&P to Food Basics. A&P was pleased with the results, announcing that year that another of its stores, in Paterson, New Jersey, would close that November and become a Food Basics. A&P then decided to concentrate their business plan on its newer and larger stores, converting smaller stores to Food Basics. Some of the new Food Basics stores had been part of the A&P family for decades, including the original Paterson store. A&P built a new store on that property later; the company's corporate headquarters was in that building. Other Food Basics, such as the Wallington, New Jersey store, were added to the A&P fold when the chain purchased Stop & Shop's New York Metro division in 1982. For years, nearly all of Food Basics' locations in America were smaller A&P stores. More recently, A&P expanded the Food Basics concept to larger stores, including an A&P Food Market in Fairview, New Jersey, a former Pathmark Super Center in Paterson, and an A&P Super Foodmart in Bridgeport, Connecticut which closed in 2011 due to A&P's 2010 bankruptcy filing.
In its beginnings, American Food Basics stores followed the same business plan as the Canadian stores; no fresh meat or deli were offered, some stores did not have fresh produce, and customers were not allowed to receive free plastic bags. In the latter case, customers were encouraged to bring their own bags, with a small discount for each bag used, or use cardboard boxes provided for free. A sturdier plastic bag than a typical supermarket shopping bag was available to customers for a small fee. This was not a popular policy and Food Basics eventually stopped charging for shopping bags and started using the typical cheaply made plastic bags used by its competitors.
In 2006, A&P changed Food Basics, opening a prototype store in Glassboro, New Jersey. The newer format emphasizes low pricing (or best pricing), fresh produce, cut meats, and a bakery. New signage, colors, and wide aisles were among the changes in the Glassboro store. The Glassboro store was closed in early 2008, along with the Dumont, New Jersey store.
As of April 15, 2011, A&P operated 11 Food Basics stores in the US; eight in New Jersey, two in Philadelphia (both former SuperFresh stores), and a former A&P in Brooklyn. A&P had operated several Food Basics stores in Michigan and Ohio through its now-defunct Farmer Jack chain; these stores were closed in 2005.
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