Reporters: Christine Fung, Tiffany Ngai, Winnie Tse
Supermarkets have become an indispensable part of our lives. But while the giant chains seem to dominate the industry, independent and smaller chain supermarkets are still striving to survive with their own strategies in a competitive environment. We have found that even though independent and smaller chain supermarkets cannot compete with the giant monopolies on price or coverage, they are still able to serve niche markets and build up groups of loyal customers. They do so by offering their own attractions, such as supplying hard-to-find imported goods that shoppers cannot find in giant chain supermarkets or sell food of better quality. Some small supermarkets also appeal to customers by invoking the nostalgic feel of small stores that at once familiar and friendly.
