 Jefferson Parish store c. 1950s | |
| Schwegmann's | |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Grocery |
| Founded | February 17, 1859 |
| Founders | John G. Schwegmann |
| Defunct | November 30, 1995 |
| Fate | Liquidation |
| Headquarters | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
Number of locations | 18, at its peak, before merger |
Areas served | New Orleans metropolitan area, U.S. |
Number of employees | approximately 5000 at its peak |
Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets, commonly known as Schwegmann or colloquially Schwegmann's, is a defunct grocery store chain that served the New Orleans, Louisiana, metropolitan area and one location in Baton Rouge until 1997. The chain developed significant innovations in grocery retailing and influenced other big box retailers that emerged in the latter 20th century and early 21st century. The founder and chief executive of the modern version of the chain was John G. Schwegmann, although his uncle and grandfather ran predecessors to the modern chain.
In the middle of the 20th century, Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets developed various merchandising practices in grocery retailing. These included: Self-service, Direct distribution, Consistent low pricing and discounting, Rapid turnover of inventory, and One-stop shopping. Store designs also took advantage of the rise in automobile transportation at the time. Many of Schwegmann's merchandising practices subsequently became ubiquitous among large chain store retailers.[1]: 176
- ^ Cappello, David (2017). The People's Grocer: John G. Schwegmann, New Orleans, and the Making of the Modern Retail World. New Orleans, Louisiana: Neutral Ground Press. ISBN 978-0-9982443-0-3.