in its 1978 annual report, supermarkets general claimed pathmark had become the top supermarket chain in the new york area, with a 15-percent sales share. twelve of its 109 stores now were super centers. that year, pathmark sales volume was $1.8 billion; the chain contributed 82 percent to corporate profits. about 60 percent of the volume was generated in stores opened, enlarged, or substantially remodeled in the mid-1970s. perlmutter died in 1978 and was succeeded by louis lowenstein as chief executive officer of supermarkets general.