<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043300</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT ATLANTIC &amp; PACIFIC TEA CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001039441</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TENGELMANN WARENHANDELSGESELLSCHAFT KG</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WISSOLLSTRASSE 5-43</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>45478 MULHEIM AN DER RUHR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179652</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TENGELMANN VERWALTUNGS UND BETEILIGUNGS GMBH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WISSOLLSTRASSE 5-43</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>45478 MULHEIM AN DER RUHR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179653</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAUB KARL ERIVAN WARDER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WISSOLLSTRASSE 5-43</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>45478 MULHEIM AN DER RUHR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAUB CHRISTIAN W E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2 PARAGON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07645</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258200</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAUB ERIVAN KARL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WISSOLLSTRASSE 5-43</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>45478 MULHEIM AN DER RUHR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A-T Preferred Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-08-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-T, without par value, due August 1, 2016 (the &quot;Series A-T Preferred Stock&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Series A-T Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share and each share of Series A-T Preferred Stock is initially convertible into 200 shares of Common Stock (the &quot;Conversion Rate&quot;), which represents a Common Stock price per share of $5.00.  The Conversion Rate is subject to change.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The full right, title and ownership of the Series A-T Preferred Stock was acquired pursuant to a contribution from limited partners of Tengelmann Warenhandelsgesellschaft KG, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (&quot;Tengelmann&quot;).  Erivan Karl Haub, Christian Wilhelm Erich Haub and Karl-Erivan Warder Haub expressly declare that the filing of this statement is not an admission that they are, for the purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owner of the Series A-T Preferred Stock owned by Tengelmann.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Series A-T Preferred Stock is not presently convertible into Common Stock but will become convertible on August 5, 2010, at the holder's option, subject to any limitations imposed by any stockholder approval requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The value set forth in this field is based upon the Conversion Rate as of August 4, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Karl-Ervian Warder Haub, by Christian Wilhelm Erich Haub (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tengelmann Warenhandelsgesellschaft KG, by Tengelmann Verwaltungs-und Beteiligungs GmbH, as Managing Partner, by Christian Wilhelm Erich Haub, Co-CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christian Wilhelm Erich Haub</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tenglemann Verwaltungs und Beteiligungs GMBH, by Christian Wilhelm Erich Haub, Co-CEO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Erivan Karl Haub, by Christian Wilhelm Haub (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
