Food Basics brings everyday low prices to Toledo

PATERSON, NJ (May 13, 2004) - On Saturday May 15, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P, NYSE: GAP) will open 3 everyday-low-price Food Basics grocery stores in Toledo, Ohio. To celebrate the 3-store grand opening, the first 50 customers at each store on Saturday will be eligible to purchase a 20-inch Apex color television for only $40. The first 50 customers on Sunday, May 16, can buy a Colby DVD Player for just $15 and similar first come, first served "crazy deals" will be available to the first 50 customers every day through Thursday, May 20 starting at 8:00 a.m. at all 3 locations.

Major Savings, the Food Basics mascot, will also be on hand at all 3 stores to celebrate the grand opening by greeting customers, handing out treats to the children, and cutting the grand opening ribbon.

Food Basics' Toledo locations are 2630 Laskey Road, 2150 South Byrne Road, and 1707 Cherry Street.

Food Basics is a unique grocery store with low prices every day on the grocery items shoppers need most. Shoppers can save as much as 30% or more on a variety of fresh, high-quality produce, meat, and poultry, national brand groceries, as well as seafood and baked goods - all without the hassle of membership fees, multi-pack purchases, or frequent shopper cards.

Food Basics' dollar store section provides one-stop shopping convenience with a variety of everyday items like giftware, hair care products, dinnerware, baby products, and household supplies. One-time super value "crazy deals" on home goods, electronics, and seasonal items are also available every day at amazingly low prices.

"Food Basics brings a whole new concept in food shopping to Toledo," said Earl Weissert President of Food Basics USA. "We give shoppers terrific value by offering great quality and low prices on the regular weekly items they need. Best of all, shoppers can count on low prices every day and every week. While regular supermarkets' prices go up and down from week to week, Food Basics has low prices every day."

All 3 Toledo Food Basics stores have in-store pharmacies offering the convenience of a full-service drug store. Food Basics' pharmacies accept over 1,000 prescription plans and shoppers can save as much as 70% on generic brand prescriptions. Food Basics' pharmacies also honor competitors' coupons.

Food Basics keeps prices low every day by leaving out the costly frills and extra services of conventional supermarkets. Food Basics stores are clean and bright with a familiar supermarket layout, but costs are kept low by skipping fancy décor and special displays. Fresh meat, poultry, deli items and baked goods are pre-cut and packaged to avoid the added expense of in-store handling and processing, and customers help keep costs down by packing their own groceries in bags they bring or purchase at the store.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Food Basics accepts major credit cards, debit cards and other electronic fund transfer cards. Manufacturers' coupons are also honored and Food Basics participates in the WIC program.

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 633 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