Zanesville Big Bear store

Black and white photograph of the exterior of the Zanesville Big Bear location, in June of 1948. Big Bear is responsible for many innovations in the supermarket business. They were the first to introduce motorized counters that were controlled by the cashier. Unique store layouts placing perishable departments in the center of the store with low fixtures and a pleasing decor brought international attention to the Columbus chain. The layout of the Graceland store quickly became the industry standard. A leader in technology, Big Bear implemented use of the IBM 305 Ramac accounting machine in the supermarkets. In 1948, the company began to move into new fields of business. Brown met with several other supermarket operators to form Topco Associates, Inc., the company that produces private label products under the Food Club, Top Frost, Mega and other labels