Alfa-Vita Vassilopoulos
Encyclopedia
"Alpha-Beta Vassilopoulos" (Άλφα-Βήτα Βασιλόπουλος) or simply "AB
" is a supermarket chain based in Greece
.
, Greece
, when the brothers Gerasimos and Haralambos Vassilopoulos (Γεράσιμος and Χαράλαμπος Βασιλόπουλος) opened a small grocery shop, on Voulis Street, in downtown Athens
. A few years later, they opened a second, larger shop on Stadiou Street
, in Athens.
In 1969, Alpha-Beta Vassilopoulos S.A. (Άλφα-Βήτα Βασιλόπουλος A.E.) was formed.
In 1970, the first 'real' supermarket
was established in the Faros area of Psichiko (Ψυχικό), Athens. It was built and designed according to European standards, and it was one of the first of its kind in Greece. By 1989, AB had opened nine supermarkets in the greater Athens area.
In 1991, AB was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange
. In the same year, the first AB MEGA supermarket was opened, in the area of Hellinikon, close to the old Athens Hellinikon International Airport
. This shop received an award from the International Association of Retail Traders (Α.Ι.D.Α.) in 1991 for being the best and most comprehensive store in Europe. In the same year, AB also opened its first shop outside Athens.
In 1992, a new AB MEGA was built on the Athens
-Lamia
highway
(Εθνική Αθηνών-Λαμίας). In the meanwhile, AB was acquired by the Belgian retail company "Delhaize Group
".
In 1994, AB was the first supermarket company in Greece to introduce the barcode system
at its cashiers. Also, they introduced the AB series of products, a low-cost private label of alternative products to mainstream ones.
Between 1995 and 1998, AB opened a large warehouse, in Mandra
, Attica
(Μάνδρα, Αττική) and in 2009 a larger one for fresh and perishables, in Oinofyta, Voiotia.
By 2000, AB had 53 shops in 11 cities in Greece. On 16 October 2000, AB acquired the TROFO (Τροφό) and ENA Cash-and-Carry (ΈΝΑ Cash-and-Carry) supemarket chains, thus forming the second largest grocery retail chain in Greece
in terms of market share. AB in one of the most important highlights in the domestic retail chain acquires the discount retail chain Plus Hellas, enhancing both its network by 29 stores, its presence in Northern Greece and obtaining a modern distribution centre (ΚΑΣ). In 2009, ΑΒ acquires the retail chain Κoryfi, enhancing both its network by 10 stores and its presence in Thrace.
In addition to the low-cost AB range of products, AB supermarkets also stock the Delhaize "365" ultra-low-cost label which includes products ranging from food and beverages to all sorts of household items. There is a dedicated corridor for organic products in every AB. During 2005, AB has gone through a slight facelift on their brand image. AB, deeply concerned over the environment and the consequences on biodiversity and on mankind, aims to create the necessary conditions to carry out and implement the principles of continuous and sustainable development in its areas of activity, as a result upgrading the country's environment by conserving energy in the stores, reducing greenhouse gases and recycling.
AB
AB may refer to:-Ab, aB, and ab:*Ab , the Egyptian concept of the heart-soul*Ab , Semitic for "father"*Ab, alternate name for Anzab-e Olya, village in Iran*Rectus abdominis muscle , a paired stomach muscle...
" is a supermarket chain based in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
History
The company was established in 1939 in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, when the brothers Gerasimos and Haralambos Vassilopoulos (Γεράσιμος and Χαράλαμπος Βασιλόπουλος) opened a small grocery shop, on Voulis Street, in downtown Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. A few years later, they opened a second, larger shop on Stadiou Street
Stadiou Street
Stadiou Street is Athens' major street linking the Omonoia and Syntagma Squares. It runs diagonally and is one-way from northwest to southeast...
, in Athens.
In 1969, Alpha-Beta Vassilopoulos S.A. (Άλφα-Βήτα Βασιλόπουλος A.E.) was formed.
In 1970, the first 'real' supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
was established in the Faros area of Psichiko (Ψυχικό), Athens. It was built and designed according to European standards, and it was one of the first of its kind in Greece. By 1989, AB had opened nine supermarkets in the greater Athens area.
In 1991, AB was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange
Athens Stock Exchange
The Athens Stock Exchange or ASE or ATHEX is a stock exchange located in Athens, Greece.-History:The Athens Stock Exchange started trading in 1876. The Athens Stock Exchange is a subsidiary of Hellenic Exchanges S.A., whose shares are listed in ATHEX...
. In the same year, the first AB MEGA supermarket was opened, in the area of Hellinikon, close to the old Athens Hellinikon International Airport
Ellinikon International Airport
Ellinikon International Airport , sometimes spelled Hellinikon was the international airport of Athens, Greece for sixty years up until 2001 when it was replaced by the new Athens International Airport. It is located south of Athens, and just west of Glyfada...
. This shop received an award from the International Association of Retail Traders (Α.Ι.D.Α.) in 1991 for being the best and most comprehensive store in Europe. In the same year, AB also opened its first shop outside Athens.
In 1992, a new AB MEGA was built on the Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
-Lamia
Lamia (city)
Lamia is a city in central Greece. The city has a continuous history since antiquity, and is today the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region .-Name:...
highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
(Εθνική Αθηνών-Λαμίας). In the meanwhile, AB was acquired by the Belgian retail company "Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group is a food retailer headquartered in Belgium which operates in eight countries and on three continents. The principal activity of Delhaize Group is the operation of food supermarkets.-History:Delhaize Group was founded in Belgium in 1867....
".
In 1994, AB was the first supermarket company in Greece to introduce the barcode system
Barcode system
A barcode system is a network of hardware and software, consisting primarily of mobile computers, printers, handheld scanners, infrastructure, and supporting software. Barcode systems are used to automate data collection where hand recording is neither timely or cost effective...
at its cashiers. Also, they introduced the AB series of products, a low-cost private label of alternative products to mainstream ones.
Between 1995 and 1998, AB opened a large warehouse, in Mandra
Mandra
Mandra , is a town and municipality in the central part of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mandra-Eidyllia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.Mandra is part of the Athens metropolitan area...
, Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
(Μάνδρα, Αττική) and in 2009 a larger one for fresh and perishables, in Oinofyta, Voiotia.
By 2000, AB had 53 shops in 11 cities in Greece. On 16 October 2000, AB acquired the TROFO (Τροφό) and ENA Cash-and-Carry (ΈΝΑ Cash-and-Carry) supemarket chains, thus forming the second largest grocery retail chain in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in terms of market share. AB in one of the most important highlights in the domestic retail chain acquires the discount retail chain Plus Hellas, enhancing both its network by 29 stores, its presence in Northern Greece and obtaining a modern distribution centre (ΚΑΣ). In 2009, ΑΒ acquires the retail chain Κoryfi, enhancing both its network by 10 stores and its presence in Thrace.
Services
AB has introduced a bonus-reward programme, dubbed the "AB Plus" card, and a credit card "AB Visa" (in co-operation with the National Bank of Greece), where its customers get some discount and awards.In addition to the low-cost AB range of products, AB supermarkets also stock the Delhaize "365" ultra-low-cost label which includes products ranging from food and beverages to all sorts of household items. There is a dedicated corridor for organic products in every AB. During 2005, AB has gone through a slight facelift on their brand image. AB, deeply concerned over the environment and the consequences on biodiversity and on mankind, aims to create the necessary conditions to carry out and implement the principles of continuous and sustainable development in its areas of activity, as a result upgrading the country's environment by conserving energy in the stores, reducing greenhouse gases and recycling.