Exhibit 23.1 Deloitte & Touche Two Hilton Court P.O. Box 319 Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC. We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc., on Form S-8 of our reports dated April 28, 1994, appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Com- pany, Inc. for the year ended February 26, 1994 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. /s/ Deloitte & Touche August 1, 1994