individual counters/"sections" in a supermarket

Question

Hi,There is a scheme of a "typical supermarket" in my English textbook.Some names are obvious (fresh meat counter", "seafood", "fruits and vegetables", etc.), some are not.(1) Catering foods?(2) Convenience food?(3) Gondola (in this context)?thank you!mus-te

Vorpar · Accepted Answer

Catering is like a portable restaurant. They will make a meal for a large number of guests at a party/gathering/etc.

Convenience food is probably prepared meals or snacks. Like a pre-made sandwich or a bucket of chicken.

Sorry, no idea what Gondola would mean. I can only think of its meaning as a vehicle.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

CATERING:

So how does it usualy work?
Suppose you are having a party tomorrow. You order all the necessary snacks and meals at the catering today.... and tomorrow your order is supposed to be ready so you just come and take it?

CONVENIENCE FOOD = prepared meals and snacks.
Whats the differernce between a delicatessen and CONVENIENCE FOOD then?

GONDOLA: This is a BrEng textbook.... Is it possible that 'gondola' is a BrEng slang for SHELVES+RACKs where the goods in the supermarket are placed?

Vorpar · Answer

MUSCOVITECATERING:So how does it usualy work? Suppose you are having a party tomorrow. You order all the necessary snacks and meals at the catering today.... and tomorrow your order is supposed to be ready so you just come and take it?

Yes

CONVENIENCE FOOD = prepared meals and snacks. Whats the differernce between a delicatessen and CONVENIENCE FOOD then?

A deli would prepare food while you wait. Convenience would be a section with packaged food (but usually made by the store)

GONDOLA: This is a BrEng textbook.... Is it possible that 'gondola' is a BrEng slang for SHELVES+RACKs where the goods in the supermarket are placed?

I googled "gondola" and got pictures of shelves, so yes, I think the gondola section would be the long rows of shelved items. In AmE, we would probably call the area "the aisles".

CalifJim · Answer

MUSCOVITECATERING:So how does it usualy work? ...

To me, catering can mean just what you described, but it can also mean that waiters and waitresses bring the food to your party and remain there to serve it to your guests.

A delicatessen is a shop or a section of a supermarket (not a food) where you can buy any amount you need of any of several varieties of cold-cuts such as ham and salami, (sliced to order, thick or thin), cheeses, salads, sandwiches, and prepared hot foods. You approach a display case, tell the attendant what you want, and how much. They slice and wrap it for you. They may even offer you the first slice as a sample and ask if it's cut as you want it. The foods sold in delicatessens are all ready to eat.

Convenience food is packaged and placed on the shelves of the supermarket or in the frozen foods section. You need to take things out of boxes and cook them yourself. The frozen meals have to be microwaved. Some markets put things like sodas, potato chips, peanut butter, jams, and jellies in this category.

Google 'supermarket gondola'.

gondola - a free-standing shelving unit. It can be placed prominently where it will attract people to buy the things displayed there. You often see these displaying specials at the ends of aisles.

CJ

Khoff · Answer

CalifJim You often see these displaying specials at the ends of aisles.

Ah -- an "endcap"!

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Vorpar:
CalifJim:
Many thanks for your (most interesting and detailed!) comments

Also my thanks to khoff for pointing out that "supermarket gondola" = "endcap"

mus-te

individual counters/"sections" in a supermarket

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