Local supermarket mainstay Foodland marks 75th anniversary | News, Sports, Jobs
The first Foodland store in Honolulu is shown. The local supermarket chain first opened in May 1948 and expanded to Maui in 1970. Photos courtesy Foodland Super Market Ltd.
In May 1948, an Irish immigrant and a local family opened the first modern supermarket in Honolulu, drawing crowds so large that the front doors had to be locked and only a few people were allowed in at a time.
The first Foodland became so popular that the company went on to open a store a year for the next 10 years, expanding to Kauai in 1967, Maui in 1970 and Hawaii island in 1971.
Now, the state’s largest locally owned and operated grocery retailer is marking its 75th anniversary in a celebration that will feature new food and products, exclusive art from local artists and a community giving program.
“My parents and maternal grandparents opened Hawai’i’s first supermarket at Market City Shopping Center in Honolulu on May 6, 1948. That was a proud day for them, and this is a proud time for all of us who are part of today’s Foodland family,” Foodland Chairman and CEO, Jenai S. Wall said in a news release earlier this week.
Workers are seen in Foodland’s early uniforms.
Wall’s father, Maurice Sullivan, was sent to Hawaii in 1942 and assigned to the commissary as a buyer for the officer’s mess hall, according to Foodland’s website. During his buying trips around the island, he met the Lau family, who operated Lanikai Store, and went to work for them after he was discharged from the Army in 1946.
Together in 1948, the Lau Family and “Sully” opened the first Foodland at Market City in Honolulu. The company now encompasses 31 stores statewide that offer a wide selection of groceries as well as local grab-and-go favorites like musubi and poke.
To mark its 75th anniversary, Foodland will be rolling out:
• Exclusive products and local brand collaborations available starting this month, including Sun Noodle’s local-style shoyu dry mein (only at Foodland Maika’i), inspired by the Maui-born brothless noodle dish; Diamond Bakery’s anniversary snack pack; Lion Coffee’s Foodland roast of Kona and Arabica beans; Lanai’s Sensei Farms’ Maika’i greens; and Uncle’s Ice Cream Sandwiches with a new lychee chocolate chip ice cream sandwich at select Foodland stores on Oahu.
• Two new poke selections, including ginger scallion ahi tataki poke available starting Wednesday. A second poke variety will be launched later this summer.
Foodland is rolling out two new poke selections, including ginger scallion ahi tataki poke, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration.
• New deli and bakery offerings, including a Maika’i firecracker dip made of kamaboko, imitation crab and “the right amount of heat”; fried chicken skin; Hawaii barbecue wonton chips; fresh-made adobo pork rinds; and lilikoi- and melon-flavored butter mochi. Banana mac nut bread pudding and new varieties of crispy fried chicken will also be coming soon.
• Exclusive limited-edition prints and merchandise from 10 Hawaii artists — Punky Aloha, Aloha de Mele, Jeff Gress, John Hook, Kelsey Ige, Kahala, Steven Kean, Jana Lam, Lola Pilar and Jasper Wong.
• “Together We Give” community program. In June, July and August, the program will provide support to six Hawaii nonprofits — two each month — by encouraging customers to donate up to $249 or 250 Maika’i points (the equivalent of a $5 donation) to the organization of their choice for that month. Customers may also donate coins or round up the amount of their grocery purchases. Foodland will match a portion of all customer donations. The six organizations are Hawai’i Rotary Youth Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawai’i, Boys and Girls Club of Hawai’i, Lanakila Pacific Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Food Bank.
• New reusable bags that pay homage to Foodland “then and now.” Customers can receive the tote free with 100 Maika’i points through Tuesday.
“We are grateful to have remained a local, family-owned business, and know that this milestone anniversary would not be possible without the support of our customers, partners and employees,” Wall said. “Our 75th anniversary celebration is our way of saying ‘mahalo, Hawai’i,’ and we hope the community will enjoy all we have planned.”
- The first Foodland store in Honolulu is shown. The local supermarket chain first opened in May 1948 and expanded to Maui in 1970. Photos courtesy Foodland Super Market Ltd.
- Foodland is rolling out two new poke selections, including ginger scallion ahi tataki poke, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration.
- Workers are seen in Foodland’s early uniforms.
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