King Kullen supermarkets are still ‘piling it high and selling it low’ today
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■The first supermarket appeared in New York on 4 August 1930, named ‘King Kullen’ after its creator Michael J. Cullen. The store was an instant hit, providing self-service, individual product departments and discount pricing. It also had a car park, which meant families could load up their weekly shopping in one go without having to travel to different stores. The supermarket’s motto – ‘Pile it high. Sell it low’ – became the blueprint for all supermarkets that followed. Cullen also started the concept of ‘chain stores’. By the time of his death there were 17 King Kullens in operation.