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BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- King Kullen Grocery Co. here is marking its 75-year anniversary this month -- which also marks the 75th anniversary of the modern supermarket, according to the Smithsonian Institution.
While many companies lay claim to the distinction of being the first supermarket in the U.S., King Kullen takes great pride in the designation on its corporate logo as America's First Supermarket and cites as its authority the Smithsonian, which says the King Kullen store that opened in Queens in New York City in August 1930 was the first to meet all five criteria that define the modern supermarket: self-service, separate departments, discount pricing, chain marketing and volume dealing.
Although each of these elements existed before King Kullen, it was the company's founder, Michael J. Cullen, who had the vision to combine them into one package, a company history points out.
King Kullen kicked off its anniversary celebration in mid-May by rolling back prices on selected items to 75 cents. A week later it began a sweepstakes promotion that culminated last week with a $75,000 cash prize awarded to one winning customer. Additional prizes -- including trips to Disney World, free groceries for a year and gift certificates up to $2,500 -- were also awarded.
King Kullen operates 48 of its 49 stores on Long Island in New York and a single store across New York Harbor in Staten Island. Its portfolio includes 46 conventional supermarkets and two Wild by Nature natural food stores. Stores average 38,000 square feet, though some run as large as 62,000; the company's newest store, which opened in June in East Setauket, is 40,000 square feet.
Sales last year were estimated at $800 million.
Family Legacy
King Kullen remains a family-owned business, run by the Cullen and Kennedy families. "For a company in the supermarket industry to remain family-operated this long is truly amazing," Tom Cullen, vice president of government and industry relations, told SN.
Two members of the second generation are still involved in the business: Bernard D. Kennedy, the 80-year-old chairman, who still comes in to work on a daily basis, and his brother, Eugene Kennedy, a board member.
Two third-generation cousins oversee the company on a day-to-day basis as co-president and co-chief operating officer: Brian...