Research Resources

'S' Supermarket Terms

The following term(s) meet your search criteria:

sack

To bag purchases at the checkout. See bagger.
safety cutter

A case cutter used to open cases of product.
safety stock

A back-stock of products kept to replenish shelves.
sales

The dollar amount of products or services sold.
sales analysis

An analysis of sales by week, month, period or year to project trends, identify problems and measure a retailer's performance.
sales area

An area designated in a retail store to display and merchandise products, provide customer service and check out. It does not include the back room, coolers, (stock area) or maintenance areas.
sales log

A sales record by store and department, which provides sales trends, competitive factors, staffing, weather, holidays, etc.
sales per associate hour/sales per labor hour (SPAH/SPLH)

A productivity measure that quantifies the total dollars of sales for every labor hour used.
sales per square foot

A measure of store and department profitability. Calculated by dividing the daily, weekly or monthly sales by the number of square feet of floor or shelf space.
sales projection

A sales forecast based on sales for the same period last year.
sales representative

A marketing person employed by a manufacturer or wholesaler to represent certain product brands within a given sales area.
sales representative's premium

A premium or prize given to a manufacturer's or wholesaler's marketing person for achieving benchmark sales.
sales service

Fee-based services for retailers provided by a manufacturer's or wholesaler's marketing staff on a fee per service basis, e.g., merchandising the store, advertising, management information services (MIS).
sales service representative

A marketing person who provides services for a fee to a retailer, e.g., merchandising, advertising, or layout.
salvage

Product containers/shippers (bales, pallets, containers) that must be returned or recycled to defray operational costs.
sampling

A marketing program used to prompt impulse buying. Particularly useful in the Deli and Bakery Departments. The customer is encouraged to sample products from a prepared sample tray.
sanitize

The last part of the cleaning procedure of food equipment and surfaces to reduce microbial counts to a safe level within the department.
satellite network

A communications system that utilizes satellites to relay data and information. Also known as Satellite Communications.
satellite stores

Retail stores that are serviced by the same distribution center; or outlying stores in a shopping center.
scale

A machine used to weigh products.
scaler

A special hand tool with ridged teeth for scaling fish.
scaling

The pricing of merchandise on the basis of weight and retail price.
scan and bag

The system or technique whereby a cashier bags purchases while scanning.
scan bars

The standardized coding system (Universal Product Code) that encrypts individual product pricing and identification information within a series of vertical lines.
scan down

Data obtained from a secondary source, e.g., A.C. Nielsen or Information Resources, Inc.
scan integrity

The quality of the inventory and pricing data that ensures that items have been added, deleted and correctly priced.
scan ratio

An inventory correction calculation to adjust for physical inventory differences based on the percentage of items scanned to the total items sold.
Scan-based trading

A new way of doing business between direct store delivery manufacturers and retailers.It incorporates daily point-of-sale data to pay for product, electronic communication technologies to eliminate discrepancies and inefficiencies, and various store-level operating improvements, such as open delivery windows and elimination of check-in, to speed product flow.
scannable coupons

Coupons with a scannable bar code used to identify the promotional program and product and to deduct the correct value from a customer's receipt.
scanner

An electronic register system that automatically records the product description and retail price for an item by reading a UPC code with a laser.
scanner allowance

A manufacturer's performance criteria based on the number of products scanned during a promotion.
scanning

A process of moving items over a laser in order to record a transaction.
schematic

See planogram.
scratch

A product deleted from a retailer's order because the warehouse is out of stock. Also called a short. See cut.
scratch bakery

An in-store bakery that prepares products by using basic ingredients, e.g., flour, sugar, eggs, yeast.
seal program

A security procedure for truck deliveries. Each truck is padlocked and sealed with a slim, numbered metal strip. The receiver breaks the seal and records the driver's name and the seal number in a log.
seasonal calendar/planner

A seasonal, schedule created to simplify planning around holidays and specific selling periods, i.e., merchandising, display building, ordering, scheduling staff.
seasonal item

Products associated exclusively with a holiday or specific time of the year. Also known as Seasonal Merchandise.
seasonal promotions

A marketing plan of in-and-out promotions for seasonal events, such as Christmas, Back-to-School, Spring Clean-up, Halloween, Valentine's Day.
secondary display

A promotional display of an item in a retail store in addition to a product's regular shelf location.
secondary packaging

A master package that contains several inner packs; which are normally the unit of sale.
secondary supplier

A vendor or wholesaler that supplies a retailer with a small volume of products.
section

An area in a retail store that contains one category of products.
section reset

See reset.
security deposit

A retailer's cash deposit with a wholesaler to secure credit.
segregation

Locating general merchandise products (GM) in a well-defined area of a store rather than in aisles next to or across from food products.
selective discounting

Price reductions on fast-moving products to give a low- price image.
selective merchandising

The elimination or minimizing of duplicate brand products.
selective selling

A wholesaler's marketing practice of selling only to retailers who meet various criteria, e.g., sales volume, type of store, location and style of operation. See tonnage items.
self-facing fixture

A rack or shelf that uses either gravity or mechanical means to replace an item when one item is removed by a customer.
self-insured

An insurance policy within a company where revenue is generated for insurance from associates and company contributions rather than paying premiums to an outside insurance company.
self-liquidating premium

A manufacturer's premium in which the product's cost is recovered through a retail sale of the product.
self-service

A retail store with few service employees to assist customers other than at the checkout.
sell sheet

See flash sheet.
sell-down

The amount of time it takes to sell all products on the shelf.
semi-liquidators

A customer's premium whose cost is only partially recovered by a manufacturer or retailer.
server

A central computer, which provides processing for several terminals.
service charge

In wholesaling, any charge above a transfer of goods. In retailing, an additional charge for providing service to a customer, e.g., check cashing. See neutralizing charge.
service department

A retail department that fills customer's orders, e.g., service deli; service meat; service seafood; service bakery; in-store pharmacy; video department.
service label

The in-stock position of a warehouse expressed as the percentage of orders placed that can be filled. The opposite of service label is out-of-stocks.
service merchandiser

A vendor/ or wholesaler who specializes in a product category. Also known as a rack jobber.
service store

A retail store with a high level of customer service, e.g., floral department, service deli, service bakery.
set

The layout of merchandise in an aisle or store.
set store

The process of properly setting up each department with approved products according to a planogram or lay-out diagram.
setting up

The process of properly setting up a display of product according to a planogram.
share of ACV

See all commodity volume.
share of market

A product's percent of sales within a category. A retailer's share of total retail sales within a specific trading area.
shelf arrangement

The assortment and location of products on store shelves.
shelf capacity

The total volume of a shelf; also called holding power or pack-out.
shelf extender

A self-serve display that extends beyond a gondola to increase a shelf's capacity and draw attention to a product.
shelf label

A label that lists order code, description, and pack size of a product on a shelf, as well as its retail price. See shelf tag.
shelf life

The time period a product can be expected to maintain maximum quality and freshness.
shelf marker

A sign on a gondola. Also known as a shelf talker.
shelf molding

The outer edge of a gondola shelf used for signs, UPC codes, retail prices, etc.
shelf price

The retail price stored in an inventory file, shown on a shelf tag, and marked on an item.
shelf space

The amount of shelf space allocated to a product category and to each product within the category.
shelf stable

A processed food product that remains safe to eat without refrigeration.
shelf strips

A shelf sign for a product. Also known as a shelf talker.
shelf tag

A label attached to shelving which is used to identify and describe a specific item.
shelf talker

Merchandise signs, attached to the shelf molding, used to draw customer attention to a product.
shelf warmers

Items that sell slowly. Also known as slow movers or slow-selling items.
shellfish

An aquatic animal, e.g., clams, oysters, mussels, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, squid and octopus which has a shell; crustaceans or mollusks.
ship notice/manifest

An EDI transaction in which the shipper notifies a customer of a pending shipment. Generically this is known as an advance ship notice (ASN). The ASN enables the customer to identify short shipments before receipt and plan warehouse receiving more efficiently.
shipper

A company that transports and retains title to a shipment until a recipient accepts a shipment.
shipper or shipper pack

See prepack.
shipping brackets

A manufacturer's or wholesaler's price points used to encourage retailers to order in large quantities in order to receive better discounts.
shipping container

An outer shipping case used to transport products.
shipping unit

The amount, size and style of product in its original case.
shop backs

Individual items accumulated at the front end during the course of a day's business that can be put back on shelves for sale.
shoplifter

A person who steals goods from a store, while pretending to shop.
shopping behavior

An observable pattern of consumer behavior, typically in response to sales displays or product price reductions.
shopping cart display

A shopping cart used as a free-standing display.
shopping center

A group of complementary retail stores with a common parking lot.
shopping service

A vendor who performs competitive price comparisons for a retailer within a specified market area.
short

An inadequate amount of products needed to fill a shelf or an order or to meet customer demand.
short or short ship

See scratch.
shortage

A shortfall of a product's order or weight or of money.
shorts, scratches

A note on an invoice to a retailer of insufficient or out-of-stock products at a distribution center.
shrink allowance

An estimate of loss of inventory, due to delivery errors (an incorrect item or the wrong amount), theft, damages or spoilage.
shrink, shrinkage

The amount of missing items due to poor management controls, receiving practices, shortages, spoilage, theft, breakage and other reasons.
shrink-wrap

A process to stabilize a pallet load by wrapping stacked products with clear plastic film.
shucking

A process of opening shellfish, such as oysters, clams, mussels, etc.
signage

Advertising signs of many sizes used to attract customers to a display or a shelf location.
signature items

Unique items that competitors do not sell, which differentiate a store or company from the competition. The items are advertised and promoted both in-store and through print advertisements.
SIL

Standard Interchange language.
single-serve

See portion pack.
single-unit pricing

Each product is individually priced. See multiple pricing.
skid

A pallet or base used to transport and store products.
SKU

Stock-keeping unit.
slack-off, slack-out

Thaw a frozen product.
sleeper

A slow-selling product that is packed by a manufacturer with a higher volume item. Also known as a slow mover.
slick

See ad slick.
slick allowance

A manufacturer's allowance stipulating that a retailer use a specific advertising illustration (slick) in newspaper advertisements.
slipsheet

A thick sheet of cardboard used to ship products in place of a pallet.
slipsheet unloading allowance

A manufacturer's allowance to cover labor costs of off-loading a product by hand off of a slipsheet.
slot

A numbered location within a distribution center that indicates the location of products for storage, retrieval and inventory control. See warehouse slot.
slotting allowance

A manufacturer's incentive to a wholesaler or retailer to stock a new product. Also called conversion allowance or service allowance.
slug

An embossed plate that, when inserted into certain scales, prints a descriptive label.
smock

A garment supplied to employees to be worn during working hours.
Snack Food Association

1711 King St. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 836-4500
sneeze guard

A Plexiglas shield, surrounding three sides of a display case, that protects merchandise from contamination by customer contact either direct (touching) or indirect (sneezing).
SO

Standing order.
soft goods

Clothing with the exception of suits, dresses, coats or shoes.
soft shell lobsters

Lobsters in the process of growing a new hard shell, enabling them to grow larger.
softlines

The classification of general merchandise that includes apparel, bedding, hosiery, linens, shoes, etc.
solution selling

The concept of grouping related products together in the supermarket in order to offer consumers a simplified shopping experience.
SOR

Standard operating reports.
sore-thumb display

An intriguing and unusual merchandising display.
sous-vide

A European food-packaging technique where a prepared product is placed in individual pouches, cooked under a vacuum and quickly chilled. Products are frozen or refrigerated until used.
space allocation

The method of allocating more space to faster moving items to prevent out-of-stock conditions. See space manager; velocity; planogram.
space management

The allocation of space for products, based on sales volume and product profitability.
space management system (electronic)

Space utilization software that plans and analyzes product categories, determines shelf allocation, and graphs planograms.
space manager

A person who assigns shelf space for a product category, department, or store. See retail representative; space allocation.
SPAH/SPLH

Sales per associate hour/sales per labor hour.
special

See featured special.
special allowance

A wholesaler's discount offered to retailers as an incentive to increase sales of a product. Also called a special purchase.
special display

A display for featured products on a free-standing rack in addition to a regular shelf display.
special pack

A shipping unit of a sales promotion product. Also known as a deal pack. See handling allowance; handling charge.
specials

Products sold at a reduced price or as part of a promotion to attract customers.
specialty sales representative

A manufacturer's or broker's representative that markets to retailers, presents promotional programs, takes product orders and arranges shipment by a retailer's preferred wholesaler.
specialty store

A retail store that offers only particular types of foods, e.g., bakery, produce, meat.
specialty wholesale grocer

A wholesaler that provides retailers with limited products and services. A specialty wholesaler.
speculation

See turnover buying.
spiff

See push money.
spill-in/spill-out

Food retailers serviced by a wholesaler outside a market area.
spinner

A free-standing display rack that rotates 360 degrees.
split case

A product that is shipped in half-case quantities or less.
split palletload, split unitload

A shipment of two different kinds of products on a full pallet. Each product makes up approximately half the pallet load. See layer-loaded unitload.
split shift

A peak sales period of a day, week or holiday season during which the largest number of employees possible are scheduled to work.
spoilage allowance, breakage allowance

A manufacturer's allowance to a wholesaler/retailer for breakage or spoiled products.
spoils

Goods that cannot be sold for which a retailer receives a credit from a supplier. Also called stales.
spot display

A product display in a high traffic area of a retail store.
spot mop

A quick mop of a dirty sales floor or to clean a spill.
spread

Gross profit. See gross profit; markup.
square down

To straighten products on a shelf or display.
square foot

A size measurement of floor space occupied by a product or product group, display fixtures and its share of aisle space.
SRP

Suggested retail price.
stack

A column of products consisting of one or more unit loads placed on the floor with the total height limited to a vertical opening or the compressive strength of the individual unit loads.
stack card

See case card.
stales

See spoils.
stand

A fixture used to display merchandise.
standard case merchandiser

A standard display case for service departments, used in the produce, meat, deli and bakery departments.
standard grocery shelving

Adjustable shelving in a standard frame. Also called a gondola.
standard interchange language (SIL)

A computer language standard developed primarily for the exchange of data between independent retailers and wholesalers.
standard of identity

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for food composition.
standard operating procedures

A comprehensive book of a company's policies and procedures. Also called SOP.
standard operating reports (SOR)

Profit and loss statements or projections reviewed weekly, by period, quarter or annually.
standard pack

A unit of sale having a fixed number of like consumer units per container.
standard shipping container

A container of a single type of product or of a fixed configuration of multiple products used to ship items.
standing order (SO)

A standard replenishment order placed by a wholesaler that allows a manufacturer to schedule production and shipping.
staples

A necessary or basic food, such as flour or sugar.
starter gap

A merchandising technique in which spaces are left on a shelf to give the impression that demand is great for a product.
start-ship date

A kick-off date for a promotional campaign to begin. See final ship date.
stock

To shelve products or to build a display.
stock capacity

The total volume of products that can be placed on a shelf, in a slot or on a rack.
stock code

A unique product identifier used instead of a UPC code, which is assigned at a warehouse or headquarters for ordering purposes.
stock status report

A management report showing the current inventory level in-house or in-transit for a department, section or category.
stock turns

See turnover.
stocking

A process of shelving products in a store.
stocking allowance

A manufacturer's allowance to stock a new product. See distribution allowance.
stock-keeping unit (SKU)

A number that identifies each separate brand, size, flavor, color or pack of a product.
stockout

A display that needs replenishment.
stock-up

A temporary price reduction for items due to a manufacturers' allowance or a volume buy.
stop-off charge

An additional shipping charge (rail or truck) for delivery of partial loads to several different locations.
store audit

A review of management procedures and processes, e.g., inventory, cash handling, etc.
store brand

A private-label product carried by a retailer. See private label.
store bulletin

An operations newsletter regarding merchandising contests and promotional programs, new products, etc.
store coupon

A product coupon offered only in-store with fliers or an on-shelf dispenser.
store dollar net profit

The actual profit a store makes after overhead and losses are deducted.
store format

The retail design or store layout based on size, services, prices, sales volume and SKUs, such as a convenience store, superstore or a conventional store.
store image

The customer's impression of a retail store or a department, i.e., products carried, advertising, promotion, decor, service-level.
store layout

The design and lay-out of floor space and the placement of fixtures within a department or retail store.
store loyalty

See customer loyalty.
store manager

A person responsible for daily operations of a retail store who hires and supervises employees, oversees merchandising and customer service and meets sales goals. Also called a store director.
store perimeter

The departments located along the outside walls of a retail store, usually perishable departments.
store security

Methods used to provide a secure workplace and shopping area free of violence, burglary, shoplifting and employee theft.
store stamp

A rubber stamp bearing a store's number and name. The imprint of the store stamp on an invoice or other business paper indicates correctness or approval. Stamps are kept under tight security.
store supervisor

An operations manager responsible for conditions, safety, product levels and cash handling procedures for several retail stores; a district manager.
store supplies

Materials and merchandise needed to conduct daily business by a retailer, i.e., grocery bags, brooms and mops.
store traffic

A customer count recorded by hour, day, week, month or holiday. See traffic.
store-door delivery

See direct store delivery.
store-door margin

A product's gross profit after deducting expenses, e.g., storage costs, delivery cost
store-specific pallet

A combination of different items on a pallet shipped to a store.
storewide promotion

A thematic merchandising and promotional program with all retail departments within a store participating.
straight load

Merchandise delivered to retail stores in trucks carrying only one product group.
street money

Monies available for specific performance, conditions or purchases. Usually from a supplier or salesperson rather than directly from a manufacturer.
strip display

A horizontal shelf arrangement of like products.
subprimal cuts

Untrimmed, boneless cuts of meat, primarily beef.
suggested retail price

A manufacturer's recommended price for a product.
suggestive selling

A marketing technique in which retail employees recommend tie-in or complementary products, e.g., cake and coffee, deli ham and cheese.
super combo

An upscale grocery store with 80,000 to150,000 square feet, a full line of service departments and weekly sales of approximately $900,000. The store carries a wide variety of items, 60,000 or more, with at least 20 percent of sales attributed to general merchandise and health and beauty care products.
super warehouse store

A warehouse store with a focus on low prices and a wide variety of perishable items, i.e., produce, deli, and bakery departments.
supermarket

A conventional grocery store, but not a warehouse club or mass merchant, with annual sales of two million dollars or more per store.
Supermarket Business

A monthly periodical for the food store industry published by Fieldmark Media: New York.
Supermarket News

A weekly newspaper for the food store industry published by Capital Cities Media, Inc.: New York.
superstore

A large conventional supermarket with expanded service deli, bakery, seafood and non-food sections.
supervisor

A manager designated to supervise a certain area or number of stores.
supplemental display

An extra display in a department in aisles or in spaces where fixed equipment will not fit, which makes merchandise more accessible.
supplier

A generic term for wholesalers who sell to and supply retailers directly and indirectly, e.g., manufacturer, vendor, broker, reseller.
supply

The quantity of merchandise in stock at a store or a warehouse.
supply center

The specific location in each department where supplies are kept.
supply chain

The process of fulfillment and movement of goods from producer or grower to consumer.
supply depot

A warehouse operated by a chain or a wholesale grocer that sponsors a voluntary group.
support office

A corporate office with accounting, accounts payable and receivable and advertising departments and other administrative support staff.
surprise buy

Usually 15 to 25 popular items featured at unusually low prices, found throughout the entire store.
survey letter

A notice from a wholesaler's or chain's headquarters to stores soliciting support and orders for an upcoming special promotion, so the buyer has a basis for determining an order for promotional items.
survey order

An order from retail stores, usually for new items or deal items, previously authorized by an account's headquarters. Also, potential orders at retail stores for an item before a manufacturer's salesperson or broker presents it at the headquarters of a chain or wholesaler. See future order.
sweepstakes/contest

A promotional contest for consumers, which features a chance to win prizes.
sweethearting

A form of theft, whereby a cashier gives illegal discounts to employees, friends, and/or customers.
swell allowance

A manufacturer's refund or invoice deduction to cover the costs of spoiled, processed foods, products packed in glass or dented cans. See breakage allowance; swells.
swells

Unsalable items with expanded containers or lids signifying faulty food handling, processing or sealing. See swell allowance; bloating.
swipe reader

A credit card or ATM card reader for cash register systems at the checkout counter.
syndicated data

Information gathered by a service or company for public release and sold by subscription.

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Facts & Figures

» Facts & Figures

'S' Supermarket Terms

sack

safety cutter

safety stock

sales

sales analysis

sales area

sales log

sales per associate hour/sales per labor hour (SPAH/SPLH)

sales per square foot

sales projection

sales representative

sales representative's premium

sales service

sales service representative

salvage

sampling

sanitize

satellite network

satellite stores

scale

scaler

scaling

scan and bag

scan bars

scan down

scan integrity

scan ratio

Scan-based trading

scannable coupons

scanner

scanner allowance

scanning

schematic

scratch

scratch bakery

seal program

seasonal calendar/planner

seasonal item

seasonal promotions

secondary display

secondary packaging

secondary supplier

section

section reset

security deposit

segregation

selective discounting

selective merchandising

selective selling

self-facing fixture

self-insured

self-liquidating premium

self-service

sell sheet

sell-down

semi-liquidators

server

service charge

service department

service label

service merchandiser

service store

set

set store

setting up

share of ACV

share of market

shelf arrangement

shelf capacity

shelf extender

shelf label

shelf life

shelf marker

shelf molding

shelf price

shelf space

shelf stable

shelf strips

shelf tag