Supermarket

A supermarket is a store that sells a wide variety of food. Most supermarkets also sell a variety of other household products that are consumed regularly, such as alcohol (where permitted), household cleaning products, medicine, clothes, and some sell a much wider range of non-food products. Supermarkets are often part of a chain that owns or controls (sometimes by franchise) other supermarkets located in the same or other towns; this increases the opportunities for economies of scale. In the United States, supermarket chains are often supplied from the distribution centers of a larger business.

Typical supermarket merchandise

Larger supermarkets in the United States typically sell many different types of items, such as:

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• Alcoholic products (where state and/or local laws allow; individual state control as to beer, wine, hard liquor, etc.)
• Electrical items
• Personal financial products (mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts, etc.)
• Pet foods and products
• Car care products
• Baby foods and products
• Beauty products (cosmetics)
• Newspapers, books and magazines, including supermarket tabloids
• Luggage
• DVDs, CDs and videos
• Breakfast cereals
• Confectionery
• Clothing and footwear
• Dairy products
• Diet foods
• Medicines and first aid items (mostly over-the-counter, some supermarkets have pharmacies)
• Feminine hygiene products, like maxi pads, tampons, and pantiliners
• Flowers
• Frozen foods
• Fruits and vegetables
• Greeting cards
• Housecleaning products
• Lottery tickets
• Meat
• Non alcoholic beverages, such as refreshments and water
• Personal hygiene and grooming products
• Snacks
• Toys (most supermarkets in the US have toy sections)
• Video rentals (some supermarket chains)
• Western Union money orders and wire transfers

In other countries, the range of products is sometimes more narrowly focused on food products, although the ranges sold are broadening in many countries as average store sizes increase.

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