JEWEL
The Evolution of Grocery Shopping
Jewel was founded in 1899 by Frank Vernon Skiff in Chicago, Illinois. The company began as a door-to-door distributor of coffee, tea, spices, and household goods, delivering products directly to customers using horse-drawn wagons. In 1902, Skiff partnered with his brother-in-law, Frank P. Ross. Together, they adopted the name Jewel Tea, as tea had become one of the company's most successful products. By 1910, Jewel Tea had over 100 delivery routes bringing in an annual revenue of $1 million dollars. By 917, the company's annual revenue had grown to $15 million, fueled by more than 1,700 delivery routes operating nationwide, making Jewel Tea one of the largest door-to-door grocery distributors in the United States. With the rise of door-to-door solicitation bans in the 1930s, executives John M. Hancock and Maurice H. Karker made the decision for the company to expand into retail stores. In 1932, the company purchased more than 70 existing grocery stores in the Chicago area under the Jewel Food Stores name.
Growing with the American Shopper
In just four years, Jewel Food Stores had expanded to more than 100 locations, generating annual sales of over $20 million annually. Throughout the mid-twentieth century, the company continued to modernize its stores, introducing larger supermarkets that offered expanded selections of fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and household products. In 1961, Jewel merged with Osco Drug, establishing the Jewel-Osco brand and bringing grocery and pharmacy services together in a single shopping destination. The company was acquired by American Stores Company in 1984, and Jewel-Osco later became part of the Albertsons organization when Albertsons purchased American Stores in 1999. Since then, Jewel-Osco has continued to adapt to changing consumer needs by enhancing its pharmacy services and introducing online shopping, curbside pickup, and home delivery. Today, the chain operates more than 180 stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, maintaining its position as one of the Midwest's leading grocery retailers.
