Why is the term "food store" considered a more modern, bureaucratic preference compared to "grocery store"?
Answer
It functions as a broad, inclusive descriptor that covers supermarkets and convenience marts under one umbrella without specific historical connotations.
The terminology has evolved alongside retail structure. Historically, 'grocery store' focused on non-perishable staples. As stores expanded into large-scale supermarkets, 'food store' emerged, likely as a necessary, more neutral descriptor for administrative purposes. It allows regulations to be applied universally across diverse formats—from large supermarkets to small marts—without getting entangled in the historical scope implied by the term 'grocery,' making it legally defensible and encompassing.

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