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Some thrift-minded employers in early and mid-20th century America, of which the supermarket chain A & P seems to be an example, created plans for their employees, sometimes called "thrift plans," offering opportunities and incentives for employees to practice thrift, for example by saving money for retirement or other prudential purposes. Sometimes employee contributions were matched by employer contributions. Some thrift plans included educational opportunities for employees and in some cases the plans allowed for employees to become part owners of the company though stock options.