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The industry that will be analyzed is the American supermarket business. Retail grocery stores are an integral part of each and every Americans’ life. Regardless of the proliferation of both fast food and restaurant dining, Americans shop for the majority of their goods at supermarkets. Whether those goods are edible or household staples, consumers purchase these items largely at their local supermarket. The supermarket industry is changing with new entrants and a greater demand for niche products. Supermarkets are beginning to cater to consumers’ sensitivity to retail ambiance by offering a shopping experience that offers an atmosphere and ambiance. Initially the basics will be introduced and briefly looked at. These industry basics will include a description, basic technology utilized, customer bases, suppliers, and significant stakeholders.
A supermarket by definition is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments. It is larger in size and has a wider selection than a traditional grocery store. (Food Marketing Institute) According to the Smithsonian Institution, the first supermarket in America was opened by a former Kroger employee, Michael J. Cullen, on August 4, 1937, inside a 6,000 square foot former garage in Jamaica, Queens in New York City. The store was called King Kullen, (inspired by King Kong) (Food Marketing Institute). Other established American grocery chains in the 1930s, such as Kroger and Safeway were hesitant to open their own ‘supermarkets’ but eventually were persuaded to build their own as the economy worsened due to the Great Depression and consumers became more price conscious and the smaller stores no long ...