Foodland celebrates 70 years in Hawaii

It’s the 70th anniversary of the land where food comes from, meaning Foodland, the grocery chain founded on May 6, 1948, in the brand-spanking new Market City Shopping Center.

The chain founded by Maurice “Sully” Sullivan is now 33 stores strong, with more than 2,600 employees. It is run by his daughter, Jenai Wall.

The celebration started May 2 and runs through July 10 — 70 days — and will include Mahalo Deals, commemorative reusable shopping bags and other promotions and special events.

At Foodland Farms, the flagship store at Ala Moana Center, new menu items have debuted, including a bubble waffle sundae, new juices and bakery items, and additions to the salad bar.

Perhaps the most addictive are the chicharrons, served with adobe aioli at the wine bar, along with new Southeast Asian “corn dogs” made with a lemon grass-pork sausage.