<description>&lt;p&gt;Mom and Pops grocery stores were charming, but inefficient. They contributed to Americans either spending a lot on their food or having to go hungry. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company changed the entire model. The A&amp;amp;P established a chain of stores selling branded goods at the lowest prices.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The A&amp;amp;P kept its profit margins slim and allowed Americans to buy more food for less - but this wasn't celebrated as a success story. Politicians, radio stars and vested interests ganged together to hound The A&amp;amp;P. They demanded the grocery chain change its strategy, raise prices and even put its owners on trial on criminal charges. So why didn't America like cheap groceries?&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Write to us at businesshistory@pushkin.fm&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Business History

Pushkin Industries

The War on The A&P: When America Decided Cheap Groceries Were "Evil"

FEB 18, 202648 MIN
Business History

The War on The A&P: When America Decided Cheap Groceries Were "Evil"

FEB 18, 202648 MIN

Description

Mom and Pops grocery stores were charming, but inefficient. They contributed to Americans either spending a lot on their food or having to go hungry. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company changed the entire model. The A&P established a chain of stores selling branded goods at the lowest prices.   The A&P kept its profit margins slim and allowed Americans to buy more food for less - but this wasn't celebrated as a success story. Politicians, radio stars and vested interests ganged together to hound The A&P. They demanded the grocery chain change its strategy, raise prices and even put its owners on trial on criminal charges. So why didn't America like cheap groceries?   Write to us at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.