Grocery Store vs Supermarket: Aren’t They the Same?

Did you know there are almost 64,000 different grocery store and supermarket retailers across the USA?

When it comes to food shopping, there is a lot of confusion about the difference between these two formats. Aren’t they the same thing? In reality, there is a big distinction between the two types of stores that you need to know about.

This blog post will explore the differences between grocery store vs supermarket layouts, and help you figure out which type of store is best for your needs!

What is a Grocery Store?

A grocery store is a food retail establishment that typically sells fresh food, such as produce, meat, and dairy products.

Grocery stores also sell some packaged food items, such as dry goods and canned goods. In addition to food, grocery stores usually sell household items like cleaning supplies and paper products.

What is a Supermarket?

A supermarket tends to have a larger and bigger expanse of items than a grocery store.

They have all of the food items that a grocery store would have, but often have additional sections such as homeware, some electronics, and even on occasions, clothing departments.

Supermarkets also typically have wider aisles and more check-out lanes for the customers. There tends to be more footfall in supermarkets, meaning more people need serving.

So Which Type of Store is Best for You?

If you are looking for a one-stop shop that has everything you need, then a supermarket is probably your best bet. However, if you are just looking for fresh food and household essentials, then a grocery store will likely have everything you need.

Big weekly or bi-monthly shops are usually best done in supermarkets as you get the full range of products for your shopping list. Although, if you’re just picking up a couple of items, or topping up your weekly shop, a grocery store is ideal.

Larger supermarkets tend to be on the edges of towns and cities as they need a lot of space to house all their items, so a supermarket might not always be the easiest place to get to, depending on where you live.

A supermarket layout is designed to utilize a greater amount of space and has more room to showcase and display its items

Grocery stores are usually smaller and more centrally located, so you might find it easier to get to than a supermarket.

Grocery Store Vs Supermarket: Which Comes up a Winner?

In short, when looking at the decision between a grocery store vs supermarket, it really depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for convenience whilst food shopping, then a grocery store is probably your best bet. They also sometimes have high-quality deli sandwiches near me items, that a supermarket doesn’t stock.

If you’re just looking for a wider range of weekly items and other specialty products that aren’t just food, then a supermarket will have everything you need for your grocery list.

If you’re still looking for supermarket topics, check out some previous posts on our website.