Giant-Carlisle
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225330391
2008-07-13T03:25:00Z
Kingwhick
1860805
/* Martin's */
{{Refimprove|date=August 2007}}
{{otheruses3|Giant Food}}
{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Giant Food Stores, LLC|
| company_logo = [[Image:Giant of Carlisle, Pennsylvania logo.png|240px]]|
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]] of [[Royal Ahold]]|
| foundation = 1923|
| location = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]]|
| key_people = [[David Javitch]]|
| industry = [[Retail]]|
| products = [[Grocery]]|
| revenue = |
| operating_income = |
| net_income = |
| num_employees =|
| parent =|
| subsid =|
| homepage = http://www.giantfoodstores.com/
| footnotes =|
}}
'''Giant Food Stores, LLC''' is an [[United States|American]] [[supermarket]] chain that currently operates stores in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia under the names of Giant and FoodSource. Giant is a subsidiary of [[Netherlands]]-based [[Royal Ahold]]. Giant Food Stores are often referred to as '''Giant-Carlisle''' so not to be confused with sister company [[Giant-Landover]].
==History==
Giant was founded in 1923, when David Javitch opened a small meat market in [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]]. The Carlisle Meat Market, as it was known, began as a humble two-man [[butcher]] shop.
David Javitch, otherwise known as "D.J.", built his business on the premise of "the best product at the fairest price." He spent most of his hours in the store, and his children were raised there. His store prospered during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1936, Javitch decided to take a chance on a new business opportunity.
He purchased a store in [[Lewistown, Pennsylvania]], which he named the Giant Shopping Food Center. It was a big change from the original Carlisle Meat Market in that it was a total [[grocery store]]. It was very modern and offered customers the opportunity to purchase their dry goods and perishables under one roof; a new concept at that time. The store was a great success, and soon a decision was made to expand the Carlisle store from a basic meat market into a full-fledged [[grocery store]].
Prior to purchasing the Lewistown store, he purchased a store in [[Hagerstown, Maryland]] that opened and closed within the same month. Though it was a short-lived and costly venture, it provided a learning experience to Javitch. In addition, his main store in Carlisle was destroyed by fire, and the Lewistown store was completely flooded on two separate occasions.
After each setback, Javitch started over, adding more features for his customers. The Carlisle store was very modern for its time, with features like a [[parking lot]], baggers, and outside [[lighting]] for the safety of employees and customers.
The stores continued to flourish in the 1950s as some serious decisions about the business were made. [[Shopping malls]] became a new American experience with the population moving outside of the [[cities]] and into the [[suburbs]], and Javitch took advantage of the [[strip malls]] dotting the landscape. As a result, the company embarked on a plan of steady growth, opening new stores in suburban areas. In 1968, the ninth store opened in [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]] with Lee Javitch, David's son, serving as President of Giant Food Stores.
In 1970, a strategic decision was made to compete with larger regional [[supermarket]] chains. The company's growth accelerated with the purchase of the Martin's chain (though these stores retain the Martin's name to this day) in [[Hagerstown, Maryland]]. It was now becoming more difficult for the Javitch family to personally supervise the operation of the expanding company.
In 1972, Nick Riso joined the company as Vice President of Sales and Operations. Nick assisted the Javitch family in bringing about their desired growth plan. A new [[merchandising]] effort began with the introduction of "Everyday Low Prices." This concept would begin a span of 29 consecutive years of record [[sales]] and [[earnings]]. In 1974, David Javitch died, and Lee established the David Javitch Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit children of Giant/Martin's employees.
As the 1970s closed, 24 stores were in operation. Nick Riso was appointed President, and Lee Javitch assumed the position of Chairman. As the 1980s approached, the company had grown to a workforce of 3,400.
[[Image:CIMG2365.JPG|thumb|250px|left|A GIANT of Carlisle Supermarket in [[Shillington, Pennsylvania]].]]
In 1981, the Javitch family made a key decision to sell the company to [[Ahold|Royal Ahold Corporation]], a food retailing business based in [[Zaandam]], the [[Netherlands]]. Ahold's roots date back to 1887, with the [[Albert Heijn]] grocery chain in [[Holland]] serving as their anchor business. They are now a multi-faceted [[international]] company involved in the [[manufacturing]] and [[retailing]] of food and other consumer goods across the world. At the time of the agreement, Giant was operating 29 supermarkets.
Throughout the 1980s, Giant continued to grow. In 1988, Allan Noddle assumed the position of President of Giant Food Stores, as the 50th Giant store opened. Noddle served as a [[spokesman]] in Giant's radio and television [[advertising]] campaigns.
The late 1980s through the mid 1990s saw a complete modernization of Giant and Martin's stores as remodels, expansions, and interior upgrades were completed in virtually every store within the chain. In addition, many new customer conveniences were added including in-store [[bank]]s, [[pharmacies]], [[Chinese food|Chinese]] kitchens, [[coffee shops]], [[photo processing]], and [[dry cleaning]] services. By the end of 1996, Giant had grown to 75 stores.
1997 saw the second major change in the company's history as Giant [[merged]] with Edwards Super Food Stores, another [[Ahold]]-owned company. Upon completion of the merger, Giant was operating two [[Division (organization)|divisions]], with 23,000 employees in six states including [[Maryland]], [[New Jersey]], [[New York]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Virginia]], and [[West Virginia]]. Additionally, Tony Schiano became President and [[Chief Executive Officer]] of Giant.
As 2000 approached, Giant Food Stores underwent many [[technological]] changes. In addition, the first new 2000 [[prototype]] store opened in [[Hellertown, Pennsylvania]] and additional new stores opened with shopping conveniences for customers including [[gas stations]], full-service [[floral]] departments, [[smoothie]] and [[juice]] bars, expanded [[deli]] and [[bakery]] departments, and [[organic produce]].
The new [[millennium]] brought about additional change within the organization, as Edwards transitioned to another Ahold-owned company, [[Stop & Shop]]. The Edwards stores throughout [[New Jersey]] and [[New York]] were remodeled and reopened under the Stop & Shop banner. With the major change, Giant concentrated on its plans to expand, and opened stores in new market areas such as [[Altoona, Pennsylvania]].
In 2001, Giant formed an alliance with another [[Ahold]] company, [[Tops Markets, LLC]] in [[Buffalo, New York]]. The new partnership, called Shared Services, was designed to allow both companies to continue to operate individually as separate and distinct businesses while partnering to support corporate functions.
U-Scan [[self checkout]] registers were implemented company-wide, and a new [[marketing campaign]], "Quality. Selection. Savings. Every Day" was introduced.
Major organizational change occurred in January 2003. Ultimately, Shared Services evolved to the extent that currently, [[Tops Markets, LLC|Tops]] is now fully integrated into the Giant organization. The new structure results in many organizational changes that are consistent with [[Ahold]]'s strategy of operating local food stores that are focused on meeting the needs of the customer. Through this integration, Giant and [[Tops Markets, LLC|Tops]] will share each company's own strengths while maintaining local brands, resulting in increased long-term competitiveness and financial performance.
On October 12, 2005, Giant opened the doors on a new "Super Giant" in [[Camp Hill, Pennsylvania]], in part due to competition from [[Wegmans]] supermarkets moving into the area. The new Giant offers more selections overall, particularly in the deli department, which is what Wegmans is known for. Another new Super Giant opened in [[Willow Grove, Pennsylvania]] on March 5, 2008 with a total area of 97,300 square feet, making it Giant's largest store in Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |last=Panaritis|first=Maria |title=Colossal competition |publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=[[March 3]], [[2008]] |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/16173057.html}}</ref>
Giant Food Stores sponsors the [[Giant Center]] arena in [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]] as well as the Skyview at [[Hersheypark]]. They also sell Hersheypark tickets at a reduced price.
On [[February 1]], [[2007]], Carl Schlicker assumed responsibility as CEO of Giant/Tops, replacing the retiring Schiano.<ref name="schianoretire">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahold.com/page/4837.aspx |title=Tony Schiano retires and Carl Schlicker to be appointed as President and CEO of Giant-Carlisle/Tops |accessdate=2007-08-24 |author=Ahold Press Office |date=2007-01-09 |format= |work=http://www.ahold.com/ }}</ref>
[[October 11]], [[2007]], Ahold USA announced the sale of [[Tops Markets, LLC]] to [[Morgan Stanley|Morgan Stanley Private Equity]]. This sale is expected to complete by the end of 2007.
== Martin's ==
[[Image:Martin's Logo.png|right]]
'''Martin's Food Markets''' is a chain of supermarkets operating in [[Maryland]], [[West Virginia]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Virginia]]. They are operated under the Giant of [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]] platform, and are owned by [[Ahold|Royal Ahold]], who also owns [[Stop & Shop]] and [[Giant of Landover]] supermarkets in the [[United States]].
The Martin's name originates from a small chain based in [[Hagerstown, Maryland]]. The Giant Food chain purchased Martin's while expanding in 1968. The name, once known only in Hagerstown, was expanded into nearby [[Waynesboro, Pennsylvania]]; [[Martinsburg, West Virginia]]; [[Frederick, Maryland]]; and [[Winchester, Virginia]]. The chain has since expanded further west into [[Maryland]] into [[Allegany County, Maryland|Allegany County]], into [[Virginia]]'s [[Warren County, Virginia|Warren County]] and as far south as [[Staunton, Virginia]], and into [[West Virginia]]'s [[Jefferson County, West Virginia|Jefferson]] and [[Mineral County, West Virginia|Mineral]] counties. The Martin's name was extended into west central [[Pennsylvania]] upon the purchase of corporately-owned [[Jubilee Foods]] stores, given the Martin's name in [[Pennsylvania]] instead of the Giant name to avoid confusion from their competitor in those markets, [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]]-based [[Giant Eagle]]. Martin's now operates stores in [[Altoona, Pennsylvania|Altoona]], [[Duncansville, Pennsylvania|Duncansville]], [[Connellsville]], [[Indiana]], and [[DuBois, Pennsylvania|DuBois]].
[[Image:Martin's in Waynesboro, Virginia.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Martin's in Waynesboro, Virginia.]]
The chain is now expanding into [[western Pennsylvania]], with its first store in the [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] Metro area, located in [[Connellsville, Pennsylvania|Connellsville]], and into central [[Virginia]], with stores in [[Waynesboro, Virginia|Waynesboro]] [http://www.newsvirginian.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WNV/MGArticle/WNV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833632348&path=] and [[Staunton, Virginia|Staunton]]. The chain is identical to that of the Giant of Carlisle chain.
In 1998, when [[Ahold]] purchased [[Giant of Landover]], some Martin's stores were closed and sold to other chains to comply with [[FTC]] regulations. These locations included stores in [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick]], [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll]], [[Harford County, Maryland|Harford]] and [[Cecil County, Maryland|Cecil]] counties in [[Maryland]], where the [[Giant of Landover]] name was seen as more dominant.
The chain, along with Giant of Carlisle, implemented the Bonuscard program in 2000. Around that same time, the chain began selling [[gasoline]] in front of their stores.
The chain's current [[slogan]] is "Quality. Selection. Savings. Everyday". "We're with You" was a previously used slogan. All Martin's stores are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Martin's is strong in its trade area, usually being first in market share.
Martin's Food Markets is not to be confused with [http://www.martins-supermarkets.com/ Martin's Super Markets], based in [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], [[Indiana]].
== Giant and Clemens Markets ==
On September 6th of 2006, Jack Clemens of [[Clemens Family Corporation|Clemens Family Markets Inc.]] and his family sold 14 of their 22 stores to Royal Ahold and 8 to C&S Wholesalers. Thirteen of the Ahold stores were all rebranded as Giant and one remained branded FoodSource (which was Clemens' upscale gourmet banner), while C&S immediately sold 6 of the stores on to [[The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company|A&P]], which re-branded them [[SuperFresh]] stores.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[Giant Food of Landover, Maryland]]
* [[Clemens Family Corporation]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.giantpa.com/ Giant Food]
* [http://www.martinsfoods.com/ Martin's]
[[Category:Companies established in 1923]]
[[Category:Companies based in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Companies based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]