The Different Supermarket Formats

This section briefly explains the differences between the 12 most common supermarket formats in the United States. First supermarkets differ depending upon how much variety, or choice, is offered. Variety is defined by how many product categories the store has, how extensive the selection is in each of these categories (e.g. are there gourmet or exotic options? Are all the major national brands present?). Second, consumers classify supermarkets based on their pricing strategies, which in turn are based on retailers’ gross margins: high margins mean premium pricing, low margins mean economic pricing.

The following is a list of the different supermarket formats:

• Premium Price Supermarket with Extensive Product Selection
• Superstores
• Combination Stores
• Premium Price Supermarket with Limited Product Selection
• Food Emporiums
• Convenience Stores
• Economy-Priced Supermarket with Limited Product Selection
• Warehouse Stores
• Wholesales Clubs
• Limited Assortment Stores
• Economy-Priced Supermarkets with Wide Product Selection
• Hypermarkets
• Superwarehouse Stores
• Supercenters