George Gilman, American businessman, founded The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (born 1826)

George Francis Gilman was an American businessman. A native of Waterville, Maine, he moved to New York City when he joined his father's leather tanning business. By age 30, he had his own leather business in New York. After his father died, Gilman decided to enter the more respectable tea and coffee business and started what would ultimately become The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, was an American chain of grocery stores that operated from 1859 to 2015. From 1915 through 1975, A&P was the largest grocery retailer in the United States.