Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1955-11-02
More Demand
For Food Seen
By APP Prexy

INDUSTRY must step up Its ctfici-
ency to meet these new de-
mands, Ralph w. Burger, presi-
dent of A&P Food Stores, said
today.
Mr.. Burger, in observance OF
the nations oldest food chains
Seth anniversary, declared that
Americans are the best fed pco-
pie in the world.
THE quality and variety OF
food and the shopping conven-
fences they onjoy are greater
than ever BEFORE" he said. "In
addition, the cost of eating has
been reduced in the past sc
years from half the average
family's disposable income to
only about one quarter.
But our families are increas-
ing rapidly and the living pat
terms and shopping habits are
developing. These changes pose
serious new problems for the
food industry"
The company's month long
anniversary observance marks
the opening of the first A&P in
1889 by George Huntington
Hartford. father Of the chains
present board chairman. The
firms initial stock in trade was
tea. bought from clipper ships
land sold directly to consumers
IN the small store in downtown
New York City. The savings
made possible by this method
enabled Hartford 20 price the
tea at about one-third the pre-
va!linG rate.
In /" years that followed. Mr.
Barge: said. a complete line o
foods was gradually introduced
20 the point where today's aver
- super market carries NOR,
than $500 items.
Despite new times and GUS
toners, the food industry's re-
SponSib!lity today is no differ
mt than ii was in 1859 when tn,
first APP store was opened jr
New York City on the basic pol-
icy of giving customers the mos,
Iood food for their money" he
stated. Now, as then. the entire
COD industry should be guided
ny the three cardinal principles
81: better quality, better value
ma better service to the con-
Sumer."
MIR. Burger cited the follow
ing changed conditions affecting
lie food industry's operations
l. Population is incrcrsin
'apidly, 1,3i6 per day. and it i.
Nnected that by 1865 there will
s- -~9UO.OO0 more people anc
......' more .s...4ys to tee.
d ne ."od industry Will have I,
/ > up is efficiency TO NEE.
1900 -''r'rN' NtAl4ssI4t.
/ F.. / " trend To larger families
increasing the size of fooC
. '"plIe lists and the strain or
budgets. The food indust-
mus. consequently strive &c
. ".r"v. its service and reduce
j IN metropolitan areas. the
.'U."tIon is moving out TO the
Il uonrbs and food stores must be
s;lblishcd TO serve them.
\ ! Americans are constant,
Il ne move. over half the ma
! on 5 people having changed
'cir address al least once since
SAG, and food merchants must
Dcrdtc in such d way as to carr
ne confidence of new CUSTOM
! RS.
D. More babies are being born
ma there is an increase in the
lumber Of older people. Fooc
torres must be prepared to cater
Increasingly to the needs OF
heSe two age groups.
! 8. More families are beine
tarted by young people who
rev up in the era of the supe,
uarket, and who expect as the
minimum standard the high
! 1uality food and convenient
ervices they enjoy today. The,
VIII expect constant improve
nent from the food industry ir
hesc services.
Food merchants will fint
competition keener than ever II
this changing market" Mr.. Eur.
ger said. I'm meeting it. how.
ever, they must not lose sight OF
Inc basic principles of cfficienc,
and economy through which tho
Industry has performed it,
greatest service and achieved il,
/. greatest growth.
,, Efficiency in food distribution
'is not only important TO cor
Sumers, but to farmers as well
II we are to maintain agricul-
ture on a sound economic basi.
| we must do our best 10 reduce
waste and spoilagc and elimin-
ate unnecessary handling opera.
tions and costs i'm order TO mar
row the spread between farm
end retail prices"