Globalization of American Food: Selling Food

Most of Juzo Itami’s 1996 film, Supermarket Woman (Sûpâ no onna), takes place in a Japanese supermarket. Although there are foods that are specifically Japanese, the supermarket almost looks like it could be in North America. Supermarkets as a venue for selling food are another example of globalizing American food and culinary practices. Most urban Americans had bought their food at public markets, but beginning with the creation of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company around 1860, the approach to selling food began to change. With over fourteen thousand stores by 1925, A&P was soon followed by additional supermarket chains. The term “supermarket” itself was apparently first used in California. Over time and for a variety of reasons supermarkets became dominant in the retailing of food in the United States and changed how processed foods were sold.