National Tea Co. - 1948-53 dated Stock Certificate - NATCO - Informally Known as National

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The National Tea Company, founded in 1899 by Danish immigrants George and Thorvald Rasmussen in Chicago, once held a prominent position as one of the largest grocery retailers in the United States. Initially specializing in coffee, tea, and spices, the business experienced rapid expansion, transforming into a full-service supermarket chain. By 1929, it had reached a staggering peak of over 1,600 locations. For much of the 20th century, the National Tea Company maintained its status as a top-ten national grocery chain, often operating under the “National Food Stores” banner in the Midwest and South. Its dominance was marked by pioneering self-service layouts and large suburban standalone locations that catered to the rise of car ownership after World War II.

However, the chain’s decline began in 1955 when it was acquired by the Canadian firm George Weston Ltd. (now known as Loblaw Companies). This acquisition proved challenging as the National Tea Company struggled to compete with rivals such as Jewel and the emergence of “one-stop” retailers like Walmart. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the company divested significant portions of its operations, including its home market of Chicago in 1976. The final remnants of the American chain, then known as National Supermarkets, were eventually sold in 1995 to Schnucks Markets and Schwegmann Giant Super Markets.

Today, the “National Tea Company” name continues to be active in South Asia, where the National Tea Company Limited (DSE: NTC) operates as a prominent tea producer in Bangladesh. As of 2026, the company contributes approximately 7% of Bangladesh’s national tea production.