Laneco
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| Laneco/Food Lane Supermarket company logo | |
| Company type | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Liquidation |
Area served | Pennsylvania, New Jersey |
Key people | Raymond A. Bartolacci Sr. |
| Products | Grocery, Department Store |
| Website | None |
Laneco was a supermarket brand that operated primarily in eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey. The company managed four distinct store formats. The earliest stores were branded as Food Lane, evolving from former Food Fair locations; these were smaller in size and focused exclusively on grocery items. Additionally, Laneco ran standard Laneco stores along with larger Laneco SuperCenters. The outlet in Clinton, New Jersey was designated as a "Laneco Dept Store," significantly bigger than the Food Lane stores and offering a variety of general merchandise. Notably, Sam Walton collaborated with Raymond A. Bartolacci Sr. in the development of the Wal-Mart Supercenter concept. Laneco also operated CR Pharmacies, which were commonly found within Laneco SuperCenter locations.
History
The inception of Laneco dates back to 1946 when Raymond A. Bartolacci Sr. established the company. Its inaugural store launched under the name Paramount Foods in Easton, Pennsylvania, with first-day sales totaling under $20. In October 1992, ownership of the stores transferred to Supervalu, which ultimately shuttered all locations by 2001.
During its final years, the chain underwent downsizing before ceasing operations entirely. As a unionized enterprise, the closures resulted in thousands of employees losing their jobs. At shutdown, Laneco operated approximately sixteen outlets. Several locations were acquired and transformed into Giant supermarkets, including the site in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Other former stores were taken over by retailers such as Redner's, while Country Junction assumed control of the Wind Gap location. Ahart's Market managed a few former Food Lane outlets in cities like Allentown, Bethlehem, and Phillipsburg, New Jersey, though these have since ceased operations.
The SuperCenters situated in Clinton and Whitehouse—both now closed—have been converted into Wal-Mart stores. The Phillipsburg Laneco site was demolished and redeveloped to accommodate a Wal-Mart alongside establishments such as White Castle, a Wawa, and a Quaker Steak & Lube (later replaced by Stone Tavern). The former Laneco in Hometown, Pennsylvania transitioned into a TJ Bart's location before closing, after which the property was repurposed for a Wal-Mart development. It is notable that Giant declined to employ former Laneco staff due to their union membership.
In 1997, TJ Bart's purchased the Laneco store located on Southside Easton and subsequently sold it to C-town in 2006.
Products
Laneco offered a private label line of grocery items under the name Why Pay More?. The branding for these products featured a cheerful woman holding a receipt in her left hand and cash in her right, symbolizing the money saved by choosing these items.
References
External links
- Laneco Food Lane Supermarkets via web.archive.org
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- Defunct supermarkets of the United States
- Defunct discount stores of the United States