ECONOMICS REPORT - U.S. Supermarkets Face Growing Competitio

ECONOMICS¹ REPORT - U.S. Supermarkets Face Growing Competition
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Friday, October 21, 2005

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Supermarkets are big stores that provide a wide choice of foods and other products. In the United States, traditional supermarkets are facing competition from even bigger stores. They are also facing competition from stores with more choices of fresh, natural foods.

The first supermarkets opened in the nineteen thirties. New technologies for freezing and processing foods helped create goods that could be stored for a long time. Long-distance shipping² meant that many different groceries could be kept in one big center.

Many supermarkets are chains, stores owned by one company. Price competition is fierce in the grocery industry. Most Americans still spend the most money at supermarkets. But traditional supermarkets have lost some of their business. Many people are changing where they buy groceries. They are also changing the kinds of groceries they want.

New competitors are winning business because they are even larger than supermarkets. And they have lower prices.

Wal-Mart Supercenters sell groceries as well as clothes, tools, electronic equipment and everything else. Costco membership³ stores are also known for low prices. Discount stores like Wal-Mart and Costco buy their goods in huge amounts and sell at prices that supermarkets usually cannot equal.

Competition has also come from stores, like Whole Foods Market, that sell natural foods. Prices for these goods are higher. Americans are concerned about prices. But many will pay more for organic⁴ foods. Organic producers must show that their products are free of added chemicals or drugs.

The market for organic foods is small but growing quickly. At the same time, traditional supermarkets have slowing growth. Some have had to cut jobs. One large chain in the Southeast, Winn-Dixie, sought protection from its creditors⁵ in February.

Yet supermarkets are changing too. Many have cut prices. And many are offering more fine foods and organic products.

Since two thousand, Americans have bought more organic food from supermarkets than from any other kind of store. Also, supermarkets are able to offer greater choices of similar products than might be found at their discount competitors.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Mario Ritter.  I'm Steve Ember.

1 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

2 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

3 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

4 organic   

adj.有机的，有机物的；有组织的

参考例句：

• Organic farming is expanding everywhere.有机农业正在各地迅速发展起来。
• The organic fertilizer shall keep the soil in good heart.这有机肥一定会使土壤保持肥沃。

5 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》