The initials “A” and “P” in the A&P supermarket chain signify “Atlantic” and “Pacific.” Initially denoting the two oceans, these names symbolized the company’s ambition to establish a nationwide brand that extended from one coast to the other. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, established in 1859, commenced as a tea importer and later evolved into a grocery giant. Spanning the years between 1915 and 1975, A&P held the position of the largest grocery seller in the United States, and up until 1965, it reigned as the leading retailer across all industries in the nation.