MONTVALE, NJ - February 26, 2002 - The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P, NYSE:GAP) today announced that David Smithies has been appointed President of the company's Atlantic Region. Reporting to Elizabeth R. Culligan, President & Chief Operating Officer, he succeeds Craig Sturken, who left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Mr. Smithies joined A&P in 1986, and has served in a number of operations management positions, eventually heading the company's Waldbaum's group, and in his most recent promotion, the Atlantic Region's Northeast Operations group.

Commenting on the appointment, Ms. Culligan said, "Dave's leadership has been a major factor in the ongoing improvement of our store operations and customer service performance in the Northeast. I look forward to working with him as he assumes operating responsibility for A&P's largest operating region."

A&P's Atlantic Region, based in Paterson, N.J., operates more than 400 supermarkets, including the A&P, Waldbaum's and The Food Emporium stores in the New York Metropolitan area; the A&P and Super Foodmart stores in New England, and the Super Fresh stores in the Baltimore and Philadelphia markets.

Founded in 1859, A&P was one of the nation's first supermarket chains, and is today one of North America's 10 largest. The Company operates approximately 740 stores in 15 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum's, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh, Farmer Jack, Kohl's, Sav-A-Center, Dominion, The Barn Markets, Food Basics and Ultra Food & Drug.

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