How The Supermarket Has Changed In The Last 30 Years

Your supermarket has seriously upgraded its offerings in the past few years—but there's also been a real change to its actual footprint. According to the Food Marketing Institute, the median total store size was 42,800 square feet in 2015, up from 35,100 square feet in 1994. More than any other section over the past three decades, the perimeter—the area where fresh goods like produce and dairy have traditionally been on display—has evolved the most. In recent years, this has become the battleground for food retailers as they fight to retain customers who are seeking more fresh and healthy options, can buy food pretty much anywhere, and are spending more online. Here's a look at how supermarkets use the perimeter to keep up.

Organics, organics—oh, and did we mention organics? Organic food sales are growing by double digits, far outpacing the rest of the industry.

More local produce. To consumers, "local equals fresh," says Jon Hauptman of retail analytics company Willard Bishop.

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