Today there are more than 530 Piggly Wiggly stores serving communities in 17 states. Saunders’ entrepreneurial genius was decades ahead of his time. Sadly, he passed away just as the full impact of his better idea for grocery merchandising was becoming apparent. Saunders had captured the country’s attention with his latest venture, but mechanical failures eventually closed the store.Īt the time of his death in October 1953, Saunders was developing plans for yet another automated grocery store system he called the “Foodelectric.” His new automated store, which was to be located just two blocks from his first Piggly Wiggly® store, never opened.Ĭlarence Saunders never fulfilled his dream of opening a truly automated store. In 1937 he designed and constructed a prototype of a new, automated grocery store, which he called the “Keedoozle” (for “Key Does All”). – Franchise independent grocers to operate under the self-service method of food merchandising.Īfter Saunders’ disassociation with Piggly Wiggly®, he opened a new chain of stores which operated under the name “Clarence Saunders, Sole Owner of My Name Stores.” Although it was initially successful, the Depression forced Saunders to close the chain.– Design and use patented fixtures and equipment throughout the store.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |