A&P sells off intellectual property

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., which entered bankruptcy nearly three years ago before closing all of its stores, sold "substantially all of its intellectual property assets," which consist of its store banners and private labels. Hilco Streambank, a company retained by A&P in 2015, announced that it brokered the sale of 23 A&P brand names, including the following:

Supermarket Banners: Pathmark, Super Fresh, A&P, Food Emporium, Waldbaum's, Food Basics, among others

Private Labels: America's Choice, Greenway, Woodson & James, Hartford Reserve, Great Atlantic Seafood Market, among others

According to a Hilco spokesperson, the sale resulted "in a seven-figure overall recovery."

Some of the transactions were disclosed publicly, and they included the $1.75 million sale of Food Emporium IP assets to the Key Food Cooperative, and the $1 million sale of Pathmark IP assets to a unit of Foodtown operator PSK Supermarkets.

A&P, founded in New York City in 1859, was the world's largest retailer by 1930 with nearly $3 billion in annual sales and 16,000 stores.

A&P to put store names up for auction

Now that A&P's bankruptcy proceedings, including the auctions for its remaining stores, are winding down, the company announced that it plans to take bids for its intellectual property, including brand names for its stores and private brands, its slogans and customer data.

Brands up for grabs include A&P, Pathmark, Waldbaum's, Super Fresh, Food Basics and Best Cellars. Bids are due on November 19.