George Ludlum Hartford
Encyclopedia
George Ludlum Hartford (November 7, 1864 - September 23, 1957) was an executive with the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company ("A&P") and successor to his father, George Huntington Hartford
with brother John Augustine Hartford
. Hartford was considered the "financial genius" at the firm, working together with his brother John, the firm's "merchandising power", to build a chain of 15,737 stores in the 1930's and $4.5 billion in annual sales at the time of his death.
, New York
on November 7, 1864, and moved to Orange, New Jersey
as a four-year-old in 1868. He started working for A&P
on evenings and weekends at age 13, and his career spanned 80 years with the firm. He attended Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
in Newark, New Jersey
. He moved to Montclair, New Jersey
in 1908 after his marriage.
He was behind A&P's efforts at private label
baking soda, and later their Eight O'Clock Coffee
brand. This was part of an effort to work around high wholesale costs for these items. The two brothers were behind the change of the firm's name from the "Great Atlantic Tea Company" to the "Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company", capitalizing on the railroad with a similar name. Beginning with a model store in Newark, New Jersey
the firm grew to 3,000 stores by 1915. Time magazine interviewed George and his brother John who were on their cover November 1950. Time wrote that next to General Motors A&P sold more goods than any other company in the world and A&P stores reached a peak of 15,737 stores nationwide by the 1930's and was a monopoly at the time.
He died at his home in Montclair, New Jersey
on September 23, 1957.
George Huntington Hartford
George Huntington Hartford founded The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in 1859 with George Gilman in Elmira, New York.He was born in Augusta, Maine...
with brother John Augustine Hartford
John Augustine Hartford
John Augustine Hartford was an executive with the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company and ran the company with his brother George Ludlum Hartford after the death of their father, George Huntington Hartford. Hartford ran the business operations side of the empire, while his brother George ran...
. Hartford was considered the "financial genius" at the firm, working together with his brother John, the firm's "merchandising power", to build a chain of 15,737 stores in the 1930's and $4.5 billion in annual sales at the time of his death.
Biography
Hartford was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on November 7, 1864, and moved to Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
as a four-year-old in 1868. He started working for A&P
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
on evenings and weekends at age 13, and his career spanned 80 years with the firm. He attended Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School is a college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is an all-boys, secondary school located on a urban campus serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades...
in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He moved to Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
in 1908 after his marriage.
He was behind A&P's efforts at private label
Private label
Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...
baking soda, and later their Eight O'Clock Coffee
Eight O'Clock Coffee
Eight O'Clock Coffee is the brand name of the light roast of coffee introduced by the American supermarket chain A&P in 1859. In 1919, the roast was renamed and given its current trademark. According to legend, the company came up with the name by conducting a survey asking people what time of day...
brand. This was part of an effort to work around high wholesale costs for these items. The two brothers were behind the change of the firm's name from the "Great Atlantic Tea Company" to the "Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company", capitalizing on the railroad with a similar name. Beginning with a model store in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
the firm grew to 3,000 stores by 1915. Time magazine interviewed George and his brother John who were on their cover November 1950. Time wrote that next to General Motors A&P sold more goods than any other company in the world and A&P stores reached a peak of 15,737 stores nationwide by the 1930's and was a monopoly at the time.
He died at his home in Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
on September 23, 1957.
Further reading
- The Rise & Decline of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea company, Walsh, William I., Copyright 1986 Publisher Lyle Stuart
- That Wonderful A&P!, Hoyt, Edwin P., Copyright 1969, Hawthorn Books