why are supermarkets built back to front?

Question

why is it when you go to do your weekly food shop, do all shops start with fruit 'n' veg, or bread, you know things that will get squashed at the bottom of your trolley, and end with heavey drinks bottles and the like. why not start with heavy bottles and end with fruit and veg?

Answer 1

It's planned that way. Say you just need a gallon of milk. It's usually way at the back of the store. That way you have to walk through aisles and around the store. You might get tempted by something in the meat aisle, something else along the way on a shelf, something else, etc... This is all very carefully laid out so you buy more. God's honest truth!

What I do is put veggies and bread in that area of the cart where you can put your purse or a kid.

Answer 2

There is actually a real reason for this. The fruit and veg is at the front because the colour and look of the layout is meant to be pleasing to the eye and draw you into the store. Likewise, the smell of fresh bread baking is supposed to feel very homely and make you want to carry on shopping. You find that the boring items are further round the store because they are the things that you have to buy and bottles of lemonade and tins of beans wouldn't look so attractive to the eye. It's alot to do with first impressions and I think it works. Places like Lidl and Aldi which don't have a fresh fruit and veg department seem very drab and I for one would not shop there!

Answer 3

The fruit a veg look bright and tempting although it would be better to see what your main course is going to be fish or meat or nut loaf to plan the menu.
The milk, bread and butter are usually placed at the back of the store to tempt you to all the goodies that you pass before you find them.
Your right it is daft having all the bottles last but your only the customer.

Answer 4

Actually, it's a combination of two considerations.

First, the people who built the store figured out what people come to buy most often, and out of the three or so things that "everyone" buys, they intentionally put one of those things in the back of the store. Then the customer has to walk through the store to get the item, and passes through at least 1/3 of the aisles, and may decide to buy something else.

Second, and lately, the biggest stores have expanded to have "deli" and "seafood" and "bakery" sections. All of these things use water, and / or electric power, and / or gas for cooking. Just like the meat and produce departments in the old stores. So now the stores have to put those new departments against the back wall, in order to build the shortest pipes for water and gas, and the extra wiring.

Answer 5

I always put my fruit and veg in the trolley then before moving on to the next part move it to the front section, heaviest stuff first.

It's easier to do because the trolley is still empty.

Answer 6

I agree, but the thing that annoys me the most about supermarkets is the way that they put sweets, chocolates and small toys by the till at child-height when they are in the trolley!

Answer 7

their built that way so you have to walk past all the expensive items to get to the basics . Its the same reason that the cheaper products are not put at eye level or at the ends of aisles

Answer 8

You know why? Simply to annoy you!

It's either that or if we squash the soft stuff we have to go and buy some more. It's a conspiracy I tells ya!

Answer 9

It is a marketing ploy also. It is so that you just pop in for one bottle Ernst and Julio Gallo and come out with a trolleyful of special offers! (in my case the chocolate based ones!!!!)

Answer 10

I'd also say that they're like this because of theft. Alcohol is the number one thing to steal so put it to the rear (ooh err) and there's less chance of thieving b*****ds running in quickly to nab something