GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TEA COM PANY, THE, an American corporation operating a large chain of food stores through the United States and Canada. The first store was opened in New York city in 1859 ; others were quickly added, and the business extended to the principal Eastern cities, thus establishing the first of the retail chain store systems. Orig inally the stores handled teas and coffee exclusively; later a full line of groceries was added, and later still meat markets have been established in some stores and new combination stores opened with grocery, meat and produce departments. The company in operated about i 5,000 stores scattered throughout the United States and Canada.
The earlier stores were operated by the Great American Tea Company, but this name was soon changed to the present title. The business was incorporated in 1903 in New Jersey and this corporation was in 1935 the operating company. Financial or holding companies were incorporated in 1916 in New York and in 1925 in Maryland, the latter company owning the entire capital stock of the operating company. The capitalization, as of March. consisted of $26,036,200 of 7% preferred stock, and of 1,150,00o shares of voting and 963,748 shares of com mon stock without par value carried in the balance sheet at There were as of the same date 8,991 employee stockholders. (J. A. HA.)