Michael J. Cullen

Michael J. Cullen

Michael J. Cullen (1884–1936) was an American entrepreneur and the founder of the King Kullen Grocery Company, widely considered to be America's first supermarket. His innovative approach to retailing significantly influenced the development of the modern supermarket industry.

Early Life and Career

Cullen was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1884. He began his career in the grocery business at the age of 14, working for the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P). He quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a district manager.

King Kullen Grocery Company

In 1930, Cullen resigned from A&P and wrote a proposal to the company's management outlining his idea for a new type of grocery store. His concept was a large, self-service store with a wide variety of food and household items, sold at low prices. When A&P rejected his proposal, Cullen decided to implement his idea independently.

He opened the first King Kullen store in Jamaica, Queens, New York, in 1930. The store was a success, and the King Kullen Grocery Company quickly expanded. Today, King Kullen is recognized as America's first supermarket, and its influence on the grocery industry is significant.

Legacy

Cullen's innovative approach to retailing revolutionized the grocery industry. His concept of a large, self-service store offering a wide variety of products at low prices became the standard model for supermarkets worldwide. Cullen's contributions to the industry are recognized by the Food Marketing Institute, which inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1995.

Personal Life

Cullen was married to Nan Cullen, and they had five children together. He passed away in 1936, but his legacy lives on through the King Kullen Grocery Company, which is still owned and operated by the Cullen family.

See Also

• Supermarket
• A&P
• Food Marketing Institute

References

• The Great A&P and the Struggle for Small Business in America by Marc Levinson
• The Evolution of the Supermarket Industry: From A&P to Walmart by Paul B. Ellickson
• King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc. History from FundingUniverse.com

External Links

• King Kullen Grocery Company Official Website
• Food Marketing Institute Official Website

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