The reason for choosing the intriguing name Piggly Wiggly ® remains a mystery; (the founder) was curiously reluctant to explain its origin. One story is that he saw from a train window several little pigs struggling to get under a fence, and the rhyming name occurred to him then. Someone once asked him why he had chosen such an unusual name for his organization, and Saunders' reply was, "So people will ask that very question." He wanted and found a name that would be talked about and remembered.

Piggly Wiggly's introduction of self-service grocery shopping truly revolutionized the grocery industry. In fact, many of the conveniences and services that American shoppers now enjoy were introduced first by Piggly Wiggly®.

Piggly Wiggly was the FIRST to…

* provide checkout stands.
* price mark every item in the store.
* give shoppers more for their food dollar through high volume/low profit margin retailing.
* feature a full line of nationally advertised brands.
* use refrigerated cases to keep produce fresher longer.
* put employees in uniforms for cleaner, more sanitary food handling.
* design and use patented fixtures and equipment throughout the store.
* franchise independent grocers to operate under the self-service method of food merchandising.
© 2009 Piggly Wiggly®