Happy birthday, Foodland!

Happy birthday to Hawaiian supermarket Foodland! The only locally owned grocer on the islands of Hawai‘i is 75 years old this month. It was founded on May 6, 1948 when the first store opened in Market City, Honolulu

The company was founded by Maurice Sullivan and the Lau family. Sullivan had previously worked in stores for A&P in Pennsylvania and went to Hawai‘i during WWII to work as a buyer in the commissary at Hickam Air Force Base.

When buying produce, Sullivan befriended the Lau family who ran the Lanikai Store in Kailua. On his discharge, the family asked him to help run the store. He initially said no and returned to Buffalo, NY. However, he was soon temped back to Hawai‘i by the better weather and the excitement of helping the Lau family develop and modernize their business.

In May 1948, Sullivan and the Lau family opened Foodland, which was the first self-service grocer in Hawai‘i. The store was named by Joanna Lau, the daughter of Mr & Mrs Lau. It was a massive hit and restrictions had to be placed on the number of people who could come in.

Due to its popularity, Foodland opened around 1 store a year between 1948 and 1958. In 1958, expansion paused so that Maurice Sullivan and Joanna Lau could get married.

But after a short break, Foodland continued to expand and was eventually on all the main islands: the first Kaua‘i store opened in 1968, Maui in 1970, and Big Island in 1971. Incidentally, the Sullivan family also introduced McDonald’s and Dunkin' Donuts to Hawai‘i, and opened a variety of other retail fascia - many of which like Accents and Whalers General Store still operate today.

Maurice died in 1998 and Joanna in 2015. The business, however, is still in the family. It is now run by their daughter, Jenai Sullivan Wall.

Seventy five years after its founding, Foodland remains a force in Hawai‘i grocery space. It was the first to introduce a frequent shopper program (Maika‘i) on the islands. It opened a flagship at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu in 2016 and added a full-service restaurant there in 2020.

There's more competition now from a variety of mainland imports like Safeway (opened in Hawai‘i in 1968), Walmart (opened in 1993), Target (opened in 2009). But Foodland still feels distinct and is in many neighborhoods not served by those other players. Plus, it has to be said that the that some of the stores of rivals - including Safeway and Whole Foods - do not feel well-invested in or cared for. The shopping experience is mediocre at best.

In response to competition, Foodland has evolved. It has pushed value with its Maika‘i own brand products. It has increased foodservice and takeout options, including its famous poke bar, as shoppers demand greater convenience. And it has expanded its gourmet selection to cater for locals wanting indulgence and treats and tourists looking for gifts to take home.

Like any regional grocer, Foodland suffers from lower economies of scale. However, its strong local connections and heritage give it a real advantage: it's not a cookie-cutter store imported from the mainland, it's a native player that deeply understands its shoppers.