Sav-A-Center Food Market adding
4 New Orleans area locations
Agreement signed to purchase 4 stores from Albertsons

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P, NYSE: GAP), which currently operates 20 Sav-A-Center supermarkets in Louisiana and 4 in Mississippi, said today it has agreed to purchase 4 New Orleans area stores from Albertsons:

• 2851 Belle Chasse Highway, Gretna
• 110 Gause Blvd. West, Slidell
• 50 Park Place, Covington
• 3450 Highway 190, Mandeville

"Our investment in these stores underscores Sav-A-Center's commitment to the New Orleans area and to the many families who shop with us," said Glenn Dickson, President of Sav-A-Center. "The additional locations will mean greater convenience for our current customers and will allow us to introduce Sav-A-Center's fresh products and attentive customer service to a whole new group of New Orleans area shoppers."

Dickson said the existing Sav-A-Center at 3009 E. Causeway Approach in Mandeville will relocate to 3450 Highway 190 with current Sav-A-Center employees transferring to the new store. Albertsons employees from the purchased stores will be able to apply for positions with Sav-A-Center.

A&P expects to complete the purchase within 60 days and plans to re-open the stores in July after they have been converted to the Sav-A-Center format. The company said a specific opening date would be determined after the purchase is finalized.

Founded in 1859, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. was one of the nation's first supermarket chains, and is today one of North America's largest. The Company operates more than 645 stores in 10 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum's, The Food Emporium, A&P Super Foodmart, Super Fresh, Farmer Jack, Sav-A-Center, Dominion, The Barn Markets, Food Basics and Ultra Food & Drug. A&P company information is available at www.aptea.com.

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Contact:
Robert Carson
Director of Communication, A&P US
(973) 321-3712
carsonr@aptea.com