Who Invented The First Shopping Cart

Sylvan Goldman was the person who invented the shopping cart on the 4th June 1937. Sylvan was also the owner of the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain in Oklahoma. It was said that one night he sat in his office, wondering how customers might move their groceries.

Sylvan invented it in Oklahoma City with help from his engineer friend Fred Young. The first cart was based on the design of the foldable chair. It was invented so customers can carry more groceries while doing their shopping.

In 1946 the cart changed. The back of it hinged the rear panel so trolleys could be put together for storage. The Telescope cart was made in 1949 and still remains the model for most carts today. In 1954 the fold-down seat was made so parents could spend more time looking at the shelve and not worrying about their kids. The cart was very very similar to the ones there are today.