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Superette, a compact food market which often services persons in low-density suburbs. As a specific sort of shop, the term is most commonly used in New Zealand, where the layouts of superettes are similar, if not identical, to the typical New Zealand dairy. In the United States, the term is simply used in a few states in Northern New England such as Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont as an alternative to the term "convenience store" or "mini-mart." But the New Zealand superette is itself a foreign cousin of the American convenience store, and a suburban cousin of the more rural "general store."

[edit] Derivation

The name "superette" is derived from supermarket, compounded with the suffix "ette" meaning "smaller version of".

[edit] New Zealand

The superette, in most cases, offers a closer alternative (in terms of distance) for purchasing grocery items than super markets but at a slightly higher price. On most occasions one would only use a superette for small purchases such as milk, bread, meats or desserts. There is usually a deli and gourmet foods present. For larger purchases, the common sense of rational proportionality means that customers are more likely to commute further to their local supermarket from where they can expect cheaper prices.