Frank Skiff brought his energetic brother-in-law, Frank Ross, into the business. Skiff, with his quiet wit, and Ross, the lively extrovert, made a dynamic duo. In 1901, they named their venture "The Jewel Tea Company," with "a jewel" being a popular term for something special and high quality.

By 1926, the company sold over 50 private label products and established the Jewel Tea Institute, managed by Mary Dunbar. Dunbar, who became the face of the company, published free cookbooks for customers. "Tested and approved by Mary Dunbar" became a trusted seal of approval. The cookbooks' final printing was in 1943.

When door-to-door sales were banned by the Green River Ordinance, the Jewel Tea Company got crafty. They bought 77 stores from Canada's Loblaws and four more from the Middle West Grocery Company, creating 81 sparkling Jewel Food Stores with revamped interiors and shiny porcelain exteriors. Talk about a smart move!

Back in the 1940s, Jewel Tea kicked off their mail order business with a delightful catalog, bringing goodies straight to customers' doors via the trusty U.S. Postal Service. This charming service continued until 1981!

Jewel made a splash by acquiring the Eisner Grocery Company in Champaign, Illinois, adding 42 stores in central Illinois and western Indiana. In just two years, they added more Eisner stores. Eisner kept its unique charm, operating independently with its own warehousing, offices, and bakery. Meanwhile, Jewel expanded further, opening new stores in Wisconsin and lowa.

In 1983, Jewel and Osco Drugs teamed up under one roof, making shopping more convenient than ever! Now, customers could grab their groceries and pharmacy essentials in one trip. This smart move turned Jewel-Osco into the ultimate one-stop shop, boosting convenience and customer happiness.

Jewel and Osco Drugs were purchased by Albertsons as part of American Stores. The acquisition included Acme, Lucky, and Sav-On Drugs as well.

2017 was a landmark year for Jewel-Osco! We launched our delivery service from 11 Chicago-area locations and introduced our eCommerce platform, coming full circle from our horse-and-wagon delivery days nearly 120 years ago. We also welcomed JoJo, our red, furry cyclops mascot, bringing energy and entertainment to our stores. What a year to remember!

Jewel-Osco is your go-to destination with 188 stores across Illinois, Indiana, and lowa, employing over 31,000 friendly faces. Part of a massive 2,200+ store network with around 265,000 employees nationwide, Jewel-Osco prides itself on offering the products you love at prices that make you smile, all served with a generous dose of TLC and stellar customer service. Every day, Jewel-Osco opens its doors ready to make your shopping experience the best it can be!