Pathmark

Pathmark
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryGrocery
Founded1968; 56 years ago (1968) in Woodbridge,
New Jersey, United States
FateBankruptcy (original)
Headquarters,
U.S.
Area served
Northeastern United States
Products
  • Bakery
  • Grocery
  • Florist
  • Deli
  • Produce
  • Seafood
  • Meats
  • Dairy
  • Pharmacy
  • General Merchandise
Brands
  • Pathmark 1968–2008
  • No Frills 1978–1997
  • Smart Price 1997–2010
  • Chefmark 1975–2008, 2014–2015
  • America's Choice 2008–2015
  • Best Yet 2019–present
ServicesBakery, Deli, Banking, Groceries
Parent
  • Supermarkets General Corp. (1968–1993)
  • Pathmark Stores, Inc. (1993–2007)
  • A&P (2007–2016)
  • Allegiance Retail Services (2016–present)
Websitepathmark.com

Pathmark is a supermarket brand owned by Allegiance Retail Services, a retailers’ cooperative based in Iselin, New Jersey, USA. Pathmark currently has one location in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, which it has operated since 2019.

From 1968 until 2015, Pathmark operated a chain of supermarkets throughout the northeastern United States. The chain was founded by Supermarkets General, which previously operated ShopRite stores as a member of the Wakefern cooperative and chose to go into business for itself as a direct competitor. The company would eventually take the Pathmark name and would later be purchased by competing supermarket chain A&P in 2007.

Before its initial closure, Pathmark previously operated stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2007, Supermarket News ranked Pathmark No. 31 in its annual "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on Pathmark's 2006 estimated sales of $4.1 billion (~$5.96 billion in 2023).[1] Based on 2005 revenue, Pathmark was the 67th largest retailer in the United States.[2]

Pathmark was well known for its radio and television commercials starring character actor James Karen, who was the chain's spokesperson for more than 20 years. Pathmark's original spokesperson was Arlene Francis, who appeared in its commercials beginning almost immediately after Pathmark left the ShopRite cooperative. Peter "Produce Pete" Napolitano had starred in many of the company's commercials from 2001 until 2009.[3]

After A&P filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015, Pathmark's remaining stores were liquidated and closed. In 2016, Allegiance Retail Services purchased the Pathmark name and all intellectual property with the intention of reviving the well-known brand. The brand's first new location opened in Brooklyn, New York on April 12, 2019. The company has stated that they will see how this first location performs before opening additional locations.

  1. ^ 2007 Top 75 North American Food Retailers Archived March 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Supermarket News. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
  2. ^ Top 100 Retailers: The Nation's Retail Power Players (PDF) Archived August 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Stores, July 2006.
  3. ^ "History / Expertise: "KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT A LOT". JACK OF ALL TRADES MASTER OF NONE..." Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2019.