MONTVALE, NJ, August 22, 2002: – The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P; NYSE: GAP) today filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Amendment No. 2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 23, 2002. The amendment provides additional information with respect to the nature and financial effect of the Company's previously reported restatement of its financial statements. The amendment does not change any of the numbers reported in the Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A filed by the Company on July 5, 2002 and July 31, 2002, respectively.

This release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of the Company, which are based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein. These forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements including, but not limited to: competitive practices and pricing in the food industry generally and particularly in the Company’s principal markets; the Company’s relationships with its employees and the terms of future collective bargaining agreements; the costs and other effects of legal and administrative cases and proceedings; the nature and extent of continued consolidation in the food industry; changes in the financial markets which may affect the Company’s cost of capital and the ability of the Company to access capital; supply or quality control problems with the Company’s vendors; and changes in economic conditions which affect the buying patterns of the Company’s customers.

For Financial Questions, contact Krystyna Lack
Manager, Treasury Services & Investor Relations
(201) 571-4320

For Non-Financial Questions, contact Richard P. De Santa
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(201) 571-4495

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