There was a time when the trip to the supermarket was a family outing – the distance, the novelty of the all-under-one-roof idea, the scarcity of this type of shop - made this a special occasion. Most shopping for household consumables was done at the local outlet.

The malling of the urban landscape has resulted in a significant change in shopping destinations. Whereas kiosks remain ubiquitous and the estate shops put up a brave face, the supermarket has become the most often used channel for the purchase of everyday items except milk. This trend will surely see the death of the local duka if such shops do not find other things to sell. How about books, music, and furniture?