Premium Fresh and Healthy 1.0

The first version of the Premium Fresh & Healthy package was developed for Alberstons' stores under Supervalu's leadership. It was later carried over to several other SuperValu banner including Acme. I'm not sure if all the chains called the decor package "Premium Fresh and Healthy". Acme used the name to help promote the remodels it was undertaking.


This decor package is quite striking thanks to the back-lit lower-case letters used for the department signage. Neutral colors and focused lighting are used throughout the store allowing for the product selection to be accentuated.


Curved awnings were added to remodeled stores with giant Alberstons leaves mounted to the walls.


Neutral tiling for the floors in remodels while newly built stores have polished concrete.


Fake grass lined the tops of cases throughout the store.


Ample use of category makers in this decor package.


Frozen Food was lit with hanging drum lights. Very attractive but difficult to maintain. They often get lopsided and are notorious dust bunny collectors.




Alberstons' leaf was also included on the aisle markers. They were elliminated in later versions.


Drum pendant lights were also hung over the checkouts

The Premium Fresh & Healthy package had a some color adjustments made for the newly built Glen Mills store…




This color scheme would be carried into version 2 of this decor package which had many of its more interesting elements simplified.

Premium Fresh & Healthy 2.0

The second version of the Premium Fresh & Healthy package is far less deluxe than the first version. Now more curved awnings. Back-lit letters are gone with department signs simply mounted to the walls. The worst feature... the Albertsons leaf. That element was present in the first version but was less noticeable as they were painted the same color as the walls. Here the letters are white against brown walls causing them to stand out far too much.


The second version was more of a decor swap than a full remodel. In the remodeled 90's stores you can see many left over elements from the previous decor package. Often the floors were not upgraded with new tiles.

Premium Fresh & Healthy 3.0

The third version of the Premium Fresh & Healthy decor packages is a marked downgrade from the first 2 versions. I went so far as to nickname  this one "paint and cardboard" because that's about all it is. The only thing carried over from the previous packages is the lower cased letters used for the department signs. Here the letters are all done in black on frosted plastic panels. The panels are simply hung from the ceiling along with product photography. This package was clearly designed to be much less expensive to implement. While it does look nice in some remodels and extremely nice in the newly built Bryn Mawr store, it lacks personality and character.


Simple tiling on the service department walls is included in the decor package.






The Willingboro store had their 90's decor adapted to this new decor package.










3-sided aisle signs made a comeback in this package. Done in black and white and void of the Albertsons leaf.


The new Bryn Mawr store is one of very few to receive new custom checkout light to match the decor package.

Former Acme – East Rutherford, New Jersey

Image courtesy of Rob Ascough

Located at 570 Paterson Avenue in East Rutherford New Jersey. Closed in September of 2000. Now a CVS...

Acme may have left the scene due to a planned Grand Union that was to be built down the street. Not sure if the Grand Union ever opened due to the company going under in 2001. The store is now a Super Stop and Shop which we will take a closer look at down below.

Acme loading docks still intact. From the back of the store, it looks like Acme never left...

You can see the exterior refrigeration cases that were probably put in during the 80's remodel.

Image courtesy of Rob Ascough

The parking lot sign seen in Rob's photo above.

I wonder if Acme ever made any attempts to expand into the other stores like they tried to do in Secaucus.

A&P was located practically across the street from the Acme. Now a dreadful Food Basics... A&P's discount banner which may have been retired. One can only hope anyway.

Here you can see the close proximity of the two stores.

The former/almost Grand Union just a few blocks down the street from the former Acme. I am including pictures here as the interior is Grand Union's last decor package before going under. Stop and Shop made very few alterations to the inside prior to taking over.

I have to say... Grand Unions last attempt at interior design was quite classy. Very impressive murals on the walls above the various departments. Alot of attention to details throughout the store.

The Pharmacy with lots of exposed faux brick... giving it a look of a store within a store.

Dark and blurry I know... wish I could have gotten a better shot. Look closely there at the Pharmacy sign/arrow. It has light bulbs all around it but they weren't on. Very old fashioned looking. Outstanding design. It was more easily seen in the Produce department on the other side of the wall there. 4 employees stocking shelves over there kept me from getting better pictures.

Full service Seafood now just frozen cases... a change that is happening in many grocery chains these days. Great mural, right?

Some Stop and Shop touches there on the meat signage.

Crazy waves above the frozen food cases. Made for a very nice effect. Unfortunately the store is a little on the dark side. I think the decor would be even more stunning if the lighting was better. The front end is all Stop and Shop. They pulled out all of the Grand Union retro-styled register stands and lights... which should have brought criminal charges as far as I'm concerned. Grand Union blew through cash in it's final years trying to upgrade stores. Their efforts are very commendable but unfortunately the remodels didn't bring enough business to save the chain.

Could have been Acme? They did have a chance to acquire some Grand Unions when the chain went under. They took only one...
Mt. Freedom which hadn't even been built yet.

Store Count...

The following store has closed…
Jersey City