About the Industry
Grocery stores, also known as supermarkets, are familiar to everyone. They sell an array of fresh and preserved foods, primarily for preparation and consumption at home. They also often sell prepared food, such as hot entrees or salads, for takeout meals. Stores range in size from “supercenters,” which may employ hundreds of workers, provide a variety of consumer services, and sell numerous food and nonfood items, to traditional supermarkets to convenience stores with small staffs and limited selections.
Convenience stores, however, also often sell fuel, including gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and propane. Recently, many convenience stores have expanded their scope of services by providing automatic teller machines, money orders, and a more comprehensive selection of products, including food for immediate consumption and an assortment of nonfood items.
(Specialty grocery stores—meat and fish markets; fruit and vegetables markets; candy, nut, and confectionery stores; dairy products stores; retail bakeries; and health and dietetic food stores, for example—are not covered in this section. Food services and drinking places that sell food and beverages for consumption on the premises are also excluded. The latter are discussed elsewhere in the Career Guide.)
Grocery stores are found everywhere, although the size of the establishment and the range of goods and services offered vary. Traditionally, inner-city stores are small and offer a limited selection, although larger stores, including specialty grocers and a few supercenters, are now being built in many urban areas; suburban stores are predominantly large supermarkets and supercenters with a more diverse stock. Most supermarkets include several specialty departments that offer the products and services of seafood stores, bakeries, delicatessens, pharmacies, or florist shops. Household goods, health and beauty care items, automotive supplies, pet products, greeting cards, and clothing also are among the nonfood items that can be found at large supermarkets. Some of the largest supermarkets, including wholesale clubs, even have cafeterias or food courts, and a few feature convenience stores, automotive services, and full-service banks. In addition, most grocery stores may offer basic banking services and automatic teller machines, postal services, onsite film processing, drycleaning, video rentals, and catering services.