1113 Article
Summary Text
Supermarkets, as we know them today, originated in the United States in the early 20th century. The first true self-service supermarket, Piggly Wiggly, opened in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee, founded by Clarence Saunders. Before this innovation, grocery stores typically operated as traditional shops, where customers would ask clerks to gather items for them.
Piggly Wiggly revolutionized the shopping experience by allowing customers to select items from shelves themselves, which helped reduce labor costs and gave consumers more freedom and control. This model quickly spread across the U.S., and by the 1930s, large chain supermarkets began to emerge.
