is the expression

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Note added at 2003-03-05 16:08:50 (GMT)
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large surface outlets

Eso distingue perfectamente entre los supermercados pequenos o medianos, y los enormes que cubren toda una manzana de una ciudad!

How were old supermarkets preferable over current mega-supermarkets? ... What do
you think the current drive toward mega-supermarkets says about us? ...
www.popcultmag.com/passingfancies/websiteoftheweek/ grocery/grocery1.html

The evolution of the mega-supermarkets and the aggregation into larger
points of distribution has altered the face of fresh food. ...
www.fruitgrowersnews.com/pages/issue02_01/ 02_01_new_zealand.html

...would cover all "grandes superficies"

Seanad Éireann - Volume 140 - 05 July, 1994 - An Bord Bia Bill, ...
... They are different. The urban consumer is more convenient to towns and large
big supermarkets where goods can be bought cheaper than elsewhere. ...
www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/S/ 0140/S.0140.199407050009.html - 9


Online Shopping : the best online stores are at all-internet.com ...
Online shopping is easy at the All-Internet Shopping Directory, where you'll discover
hot bargains at shopping malls, online stores, discount travel, and lots ...
www.all-internet.com/ - 11k - 3 Mar 2003 - Cached


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Note added at 2003-03-05 16:19:38 (GMT)
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large supermarkets

I would differentiate between supermarkets - primarily food and household products, located in town - and superstores(over 20,000 sq.ft.) and hypermarkets (over 50,000 sq.ft.), with a wider range of products and usually out of town.

There are also big box stores, such as Costco. However, the really big stores that mainly sell groceries are generally called superstores, at least in the industry. And every shopper knows what a superstore is.

See http://www.consumereducation.org.uk/shopping/english/shoppin...

Supermarkets

Supermarkets grew rapidly in the 1950's when many grocery shops changed from the traditional over-the-counter method of selling to an open plan arrangement, which allowed you to select goods for yourself. Most sell food and general groceries, and today the majority are run by chain or multiple organisations like Tesco, Simsbury's, and Waitrose. They carry a wide range of both "own brand" and branded goods.

There are others run by voluntary chains like Alliance, V.G. and Spar. These are similar organisations, which grew up during the late fifties when several independent grocery shops realised that they couldn't compete with the big supermarket chains. They organised themselves into groups and bought in bulk at discount from a central marketing organisation and were then able to pass on the discount to their customers. Although the shops took the title of the group's chain and carry "own brand" goods (like Spar) they are independently owned. Voluntary chain stores have really provided a lifeline for many grocery shops, which would otherwise have had to close down.

Hypermarkets and superstores

The difference between these and supermarkets is simply one of size. The idea for hypermarkets originally came from France. They're enormous buildings about 20 times bigger than supermarkets. Most are single-storey and all have huge car parks because they tend to be built on the outskirts of towns. Parking is free and trolleys can be unloaded directly into your car. They carry a vast range of goods from groceries to electrical equipment to underwear and invariably have a restaurant or coffee shop. Prices tend to be low e.g. Tesco Extra.