What department in a grocery store makes the most money?
Sophia Koch
Updated on January 19, 2026
Here are the top 14 items with the biggest markups in the grocery store:
- 1.) Non-grocery items:
- 2.) Prepared Foods:
- 3.) Cereal.
- 4.) Brand name over-the-counter medications.
- 5.) Cosmetics and Beauty Supplies.
- 6.) Deli Meats and Cheeses.
- 7.) Butcher Meats.
- 8.) Batteries.
What sells the most in a grocery store?
TOP SELLING GROCERY ITEMS
- SODA (COKE, SPRITE) & SOFT DRINKS.
- MILK.
- CHIPS (CHITOS, DORITOS & LAY’S)
- EGGS.
- BREAD.
- BREAKFAST CHEREAL & INSTANT OATMEAL.
- CANDY BARS (KIT KAT, SNICKERS & MILKY WAY ETC.)
- BLOCK CHEESE & DELI CHEESE.
What are the departments in a grocery store?
Common grocery store departments and sections are:
- The Produce department.
- The Meat department.
- The Seafood department.
- The Beer and Wine section.
- The Health and Beauty department.
- The Deli/Prepared Foods department.
- The Front End.
How can I make my grocery store more profitable?
6 Simple Ways to Make Your Grocery Store More Profitable
- Make a visit to your store a pleasurable experience.
- Pair displayed products strategically.
- Make it easy for shoppers to buy more.
- Inspire customer to purchase things they don’t normally buy.
- Reduce spoilage of your perishable products.
How much do grocery stores mark up food?
A gross margin of 13.11 percent means what they buy for $86.89 they sell for $100, so the markup is calculated by dividing $13.11 by $86.89. Grocery stores in general have even smaller markup. Their gross margin is 10.47 percent on average, so their markup is 12 percent.
What is the most sold food item in the world?
Most Popular Food in the World
- Pizza. No list of the most popular food in the world can be complete without the inclusion of pizza.
- Pasta. Pasta is not only one of the most consumed foods in the world, but it’s also one of the most accessible.
- Hamburger.
- Soup.
- Salad.
- Bread.
- Rice.
- Eggs.
What is the most sold food item in America?
Food items growing the most in popularity in the U.S. 2020 Chicken was a key component of 2020’s most ordered food items in the United States. Spicy chicken sandwich came in first place, with a rise of 318 percent in orders throughout the year.
What are basic groceries?
In this Article
- Bakery and Bread.
- Meat and Seafood.
- Pasta and Rice.
- Oils, Sauces, Salad Dressings, and Condiments.
- Cereals and Breakfast Foods.
- Soups and Canned Goods.
- Frozen Foods.
- Dairy, Cheese, and Eggs.
How much profit can you make in a grocery store?
However, for small independent grocery stores, 1 to 4% is more typical. There are also a lot of factors that affect independent owners more, such as marketing, product costs and shrink. But, there’s a lot more to know about independent grocery stores, start-up costs, margins, markups, and profit.
What are the most profitable products to sell at a convenience store?
Non-Alcoholic Beverages Bottled water, soda, coffee, and energy drinks are extremely popular products at convenience stores and very profitable. Fountain drinks and slushies are also very lucrative due to their low cost. According to Lenard, over 40% of profit dollars are due to these liquids.
Which is retailer type is most / least profitable?
Interestingly, those product categories are typically popular during the gift-giving holidays. Not surprisingly, among the least profitable categories were two directly tied to the still-lagging real estate market: stores selling lawn and garden equipment and supplies, and building material and supplies dealers.
Why are grocery stores on a lower profit margin?
The typical “conventional” grocery stores operate on lower profit margins. The reason for that is simple; they want to sell more items for a lower price. Those types of stores don’t have as many employees walking the aisles handing out free samples or giving cooking tips.