This early Piggly Wiggly trademark was used to promote the rapidly-expanding grocery store chain in 1919. By 1922, there were 600 stores, with all being franchised -in opposition to company-run- operations. The store count in 1924 was 1,400 and had risen to 3,123 by 1929. The peak store number -in 1932- was 2,660. 

Graphic from Piggly Wiggly Stores, Incorporated

An early store is depicted in this vintage image. Piggy Wiggly founder Clarence Sauders issued public stock in the company and eventually lost control of it. His later attempts to establish fully-automated supermarkets -such as Keedoozle and FoodElectric- were not successful.

Graphic from Piggly Wiggly Stores, Incorporated

Meanwhile, in September 1916, Clarence Saunders opened Piggly Wiggly Store Number One, in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Photo from Library of Congress

The Piggly Wiggly concept revolutionized the grocery industry. In addition to introducing the self-service format, the chain was also the first to provide check-out stands and customer shopping carts.

Photo from Library of Congress 

Circa-1921

Circa-1941

Circa-1951

As of mid-2023, there were 506 franchised Piggly Wiggly stores. These operate in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The corporate headquarters is located in Keane, New Hampshire. 

Graphic from Piggly Wiggly, Limited Liability Company