Fonds glen-1321 - Jenkins' Groceteria Ltd. fonds

In 1909 Henry Marshall Jenkins, ?-1945, came to Calgary from Prince Edward Island, and started a grocery store with John Cornfoot. The following year he bought out his partner's share and formed Jenkins and Company. By 1918 the store had undergone considerable growth and eight additional stores opened. By 1928 seventeen stores were in operation, and the company was incorporated as Jenkins' Groceteria Limited. In the 1920s Jenkins also purchased a subsidiary, Louis Petrie Ltd., thereby engaging himself in the wholesale grocery business, servicing independent stores throughout Alberta as well as his own retail outlets. In 1945 Jenkins was succeeded by his son, Ronald Henry Jenkins, 1913-1976. In 1950 Ronald purchased a number of large factory buildings in order to expand the wholesale and warehouse departments of the business. The company's twenty-five stores were converted from service stores to cash and carry stores in 1952, and in 1959, during their 50th year of operation, they sold out to Westfair Foods Ltd. For further information see "Jenkins' Groceteria : A Chain Store" in A Business History of Alberta / Henry C. Klassen. - Calgary : University of Calgary Presss, 1999, p. 139-142.