Supermarkets are one of the most important channels in the retail industry, both for consumers who tend to prefer them over other options, and for the value they generate, with some of the major chains also being among the top retailers not only in the United States but across North America.

A supermarket is a self-service shop offering a wide variety of food, beverages and household products, organized into sections. It is larger and has a wider selection than earlier grocery stores, but is smaller and more limited in the range of merchandise than a hypermarket or big-box market .