So what was the “first supermarket chain”? I remember Marsh’s in Indianapolis in 1960. I presume they are not citing IGA, when existed long before supermarkets.
And this isn't the first time they've filed for bankruptcy.
A&P
What is now A&P began in 1859; it established a small chain of retail tea and coffee stores in New York City and a national mail order business. It grew to 70 stores by 1878. In the late 19th century, A&P, still a tea and coffee company, became the country's first grocery chain. At the turn of the century [that is, 1899], it operated almost 200 stores.
--Wikipedia.
IGA formed in response to complete dominance by A&P, in 1926. At that time it included about 100 stores.
No... my family started the first chain way back in 1891. Well, it wasn't really a chain until my great grandfather and his partner merged with another group, but that was still before A&P came on the scene.