in 1999, shaw's made its largest acquisition by acquiring the star market chain. star market had been owned by investcorp, which in turn purchased the chain from american stores in 1994. american stores had acquired star market through its hostile takeover of jewel companies, inc. in 1984 and jewel had acquired star market in 1964. the acquisition strengthened shaw's position as the second-largest supermarket company in new england. like shaw's, the star market company had humble beginnings, and many "firsts" in the supermarket industry. star was the first new england supermarket to have air-conditioned stores, the touch method of ringing registers, in-store check verification, refrigerated cooked foods, self-service wrapped meats, and packaged produce.