Grocery Stores and Supermarkets

Grocery stores and supermarkets are retail outlets that sell fresh and nonperishable food. The names are commonly interchangeable; however, supermarkets are larger format stores that offer additional categories of nonfood lifestyle items such as cleaning products and health and beauty aids. An examination of these stores reveals the evolution of the shopping experience and the changes in the foodstuffs we buy. This entry explores the history of the grocery store, common marketing strategies, an overview of the contemporary grocery industry, and trends and challenges facing the future of the grocery store.

History of the Grocery Store and Supermarket

The origin of the word grocery dates back to the early-15th-century old French word grossier, which is derived from the Medieval Latin grossarius, meaning wholesaler. A grocer was someone ...

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