A conventional supermarket is a departmentalized food store with a wide
range of food and related products; sales of general merchandise are rather limited.
This institution started 75 years ago when it was recognized that large-scale
operations would let a retailer combine volume sales, self-service, and low prices.
Self-service enabled supermarkets to both cut costs and increase volume.
Personnel costs were reduced, and impulse buying increased. The car and the
refrigerator contributed to the supermarket’s success by lowering travel costs and
adding to the life span of perishables.