Benjamin Lorr

This book begins with a short history of the development of the American supermarket and reveals some of the key 19th century innovations that sped the development along. Innovations include banal things like the cardboard box and carboard packaging for things like cereal and biscuits. The book then tells the story of Trader Joes and the innovations it brought to the supermarket. Whole Foods is also discussed extensively.

In addition to discussing the supermarkets themselves, the author provides a discussion of the truck drivers who transport what ends up on the store shelves. It also talks about the abuse of workers in the Thai fishing industry. Particularly interesting was the story of how one woman worked to get a new food onto the shelves of supermarkets.

The book is interesting but very selective in what it covers. It is also focused exclusively on the US market. It is, nevertheless, an eye-opener and will change how you view any supermarket you enter in the future.… (altro)

this book was way more interesting and informative than it had any right to be. Who knew groceries were at the center of such dark stories. The author did his research on so many aspects f the grocery business, it's amazing. there is a somewhat funny rags to riches story about how Trader Joes came to be to hook you at the beginning, then information on what life is like for truckers, animals being processed for eventual consumption and even modern day slaves, imprisoned so we can have cheap shrimp. I read it because it was on a list of Mary Roache reccommendations for best "true crime" books ,but the real crime would've been passing up on this gem… (altro)