Kroger Ad – Sept. 30, 1959

Here’s a nice full-Page Kroger ad from the Sept. 30, 1959 issue of the Journal. The grocery store giant had four area stores at that time: Shoreway Shopping Center in Sheffield Lake; O’Neil-Sheffield Shopping Center (halfway between Lorain and Elyria); 103 Second Street in Elyria; and 328 E. Liberty in Vermilion.

In addition to the usual novelty in comparing prices from more than 60 years ago (Ground Beef at 49 cents a pound back then, $3.99 today at Kroger), for me the most interesting thing about the ad is the illustration promoting Kroger as “The place to go for the brands you know.” It’s a group of some of the best-known American advertising mascots, including the Jolly Green Giant, the chubby Campbell's Kids, and Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger. 

It took me a while to figure out who that rabbit was, though. It turns out that he had been appearing in 1959 Kroger newspaper ads promoting their dew-licious lettuce and other produce. 

It’s kind of funny that Kroger decided to have their own mascot muscle his way in with the better-known national advertising giants!