---
title: "Supermarket Simulator: Complete Guide"
game: "Supermarket Simulator"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/supermarket-simulator"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Co-op"]
summary: "A guide to running a profitable store in Supermarket Simulator by Nokta Games: your first days, pricing, licences and product choice, store layout, staff, online and wholesale orders, security, co-op, and the…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/supermarket-simulator-complete-guide-343dbefa"
published: "2026-09-27T17:04:33.762Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:04:33.762Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Supermarket Simulator: Complete Guide

A guide to running a profitable store in Supermarket Simulator by Nokta Games: your first days, pricing, licences and product choice, store layout, staff, online and wholesale orders, security, co-op, and the quality-of-life features added in the 2026 patches.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of Patch 1.6.0 (20 August 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Where the Game Is Now

- Supermarket Simulator entered Early Access on **20 February 2024** and hit **1.0 on 19 June 2025**. It's still updated regularly.
- **2026 patches worth knowing:**

| Patch | Date | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4.0 | 4 June 2026 | Licence enable/disable toggle, Product Locator (highlights shelves for the box you're holding), new filtering and stock tracking |
| 1.5.0 | 20 July 2026 | Snap / Grid placement system (some furniture resized; old stores may overlap), controller vibration |
| 1.5.1–1.5.3 | July 2026 | Fixes for Ice Cream Stand, restockers, multiplayer placement |
| 1.6.0 | 20 August 2026 | Readability Mode UI, pricing preset % buttons, Bulk Pricing, toggles to disable Online Orders and Wholesale Orders |

- **DLC:** Electronics, Hardware, Bakery, Ice Cream, Essentials and Vending Machine packs, each adding products and fixtures.

## Quick Start

1. **Set prices before opening.** New products arrive unpriced. Unpriced items won't sell.
2. **Price close to market price at first.** Customers compare your price to the market price. A small markup sells; a big one makes them complain and walk.
3. **Stock what you already sell before adding new products.** Empty shelves lose sales and make customers unhappy.
4. **Order stock from the in-game computer.** Boxes are delivered outside; carry them in, unpack onto shelves, and store extras in the storage room.
5. **Save money for licences.** Licences unlock new product categories as your store levels up. They're how the store grows.
6. **Keep the store clean.** Mop spills, take out trash, and clean windows. Dirty stores lower customer satisfaction.
7. **Hire a cashier early.** Checkout is the biggest time sink. A cashier frees you to stock and manage.
8. **End the day only when ready.** Plan your next day's orders before closing.

## Core Loop

1. **Open the store.** Customers come in, pick products from shelves, fridges and freezers, and queue at checkout.
2. **Checkout:** Scan items, take cash (give correct change) or card payments.
3. **Restock:** Carry boxes from storage to shelves. The Product Locator highlights where the box's product belongs.
4. **Order:** Use the Market app on the computer to buy more stock. Watch market prices; they fluctuate.
5. **Close:** End the day, check your finances, and plan upgrades.

## Your First Week

**Day 1**

- Open the computer and order a small spread of starter products you're licensed for. Don't spend everything; keep a cash buffer for the next order.
- Carry boxes in, put one or two shelf-fulls of each product out, and store the rest.
- Price everything a little above market price.
- Work the checkout yourself. Count change carefully; giving wrong change costs money.

**Days 2–3**

- Reorder what sold out first. The best-selling items tell you what customers want.
- Clean up at the end of each day: mop, empty trash, tidy boxes.
- Start saving for the next licence or a cashier.

**Days 4–7**

- Hire your first cashier so you can spend the day restocking.
- Buy your first new licence and matching furniture (a fridge or freezer if it's a cold category).
- Expand storage before the store itself; running out of storage is the first bottleneck.

## Daily Checklist

| When | Task |
|---|---|
| Before opening | Check shelves are full, prices are set, and orders are in |
| During the day | Restock empty shelves, watch the queue, stop shoplifters |
| Mid-day | Check market prices for dips and order cheap stock |
| Before closing | Clean floors and trash, throw out empty boxes |
| After closing | Review profit, plan licences, hires and expansions |

## Pricing

- **Market price** is the reference. Your selling price vs the market price decides whether customers are happy.
- **Buy low:** Order products on days when market prices dip; they're cheaper to stock.
- **Preset buttons (1.6.0):** Set prices as a percentage of market price with one click.
- **Bulk Pricing (1.6.0):** From the Pricing App, pick several products and set their prices or discounts together.
- **Discounts:** Useful to clear old stock or boost demand.
- **Rule of thumb:** Start with a modest markup on every product, watch customer reactions and complaints, and increase slowly on popular items.

## Licences and Product Choice

- **Store level** rises as you sell. Each level makes new licences available to buy.
- **Licences** unlock product groups (and DLC products if you own the pack).
- **Licence toggle (1.4.0):** Turn off licences you don't want. Their products disappear from the Market and Pricing screens so menus stay clean.
- **Which to buy first:** Prioritise fast-selling, cheap staples that fit shelves you already have. Add fridge/freezer categories once you can afford the furniture.

## Store Layout

- **Expand the store** (more floor space) and the **storage room** as you grow. Both cost money.
- **Snap / Grid System (1.5.0):** Turn on the grid in placement mode to align shelves perfectly and snap pieces together. The grid size is customisable.
- **Layout tips:**
  - Keep checkouts near the entrance and exit.
  - Put fast-selling staples farther from the entrance so customers walk past other products.
  - Leave wide aisles; blocked aisles slow customers and staff.
  - Group products by category and use category signs.
- **Customisation:** Floors, wall paint, signs and décor make the store look better. Customise once the basics are running.

## Staff

| Staff | What they do | When to hire |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | Run checkout counters | Early, when queues form |
| Restocker | Move boxes from storage to shelves | Once you have many product types |
| Security guard | Deter and catch shoplifters | Once theft becomes noticeable |

- **Restocker management toggles** let you control what restockers do (fixed in 1.5.2 to load correctly).
- **Self-checkout** can take pressure off cashiers in larger stores.
- **Wages** are a daily cost. Don't overhire early.

## Online and Wholesale Orders

- **Online orders:** Customers order online; you prepare the packages and deliver them yourself using a vehicle.
- **Wholesale orders:** Bulk orders from businesses.
- **Toggle them off (1.6.0)** in Settings if you don't want these systems.
- **Local markets:** Visit local markets to buy stock cheaper and avoid delivery fees.

## Security

- **Shoplifters** try to leave without paying.
- **Tools:** Cameras, alarm sensors (security antennas at the exit), and security guards.
- Place antennas at the store exit; they alert you when someone leaves with unpaid goods.

## Co-op

- Team up with up to four friends to run the store together.
- Split roles: one person on checkout, one on restocking, one on ordering and deliveries.
- The 2026 patches fixed several co-op issues (interaction loss, placement, Ice Cream Stand).

## Money Management

- **Keep a cash reserve.** Always hold enough for the next day's stock and wages before buying licences or expansions.
- **Upgrade in this order:** stock and prices first, then a cashier, then storage, then new licences, then store expansion and décor.
- **Watch margins, not just sales.** A product that sells a lot at a tiny markup can earn less than a slower one with a healthy margin.
- **Disable systems you don't use.** If online or wholesale orders keep costing you time, turn them off (1.6.0) and focus on the floor.
- **DLC products** add variety but also need their own fixtures and stock money; add them once your core store is profitable.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Forgetting to price new products.** They'll sit on shelves unsold.
- **Overpricing.** Customers leave or complain. Increase prices gradually.
- **Buying licences before you can stock them.** A licence with no shelves or money for stock earns nothing.
- **Expanding too fast.** Bigger stores need more staff and stock.
- **Ignoring cleanliness.** Dirty floors and full trash cans lower satisfaction.
- **Leaving empty boxes around.** Clear them to keep aisles open.

## Advanced Tips

- **Stock rotation:** Keep a small buffer in storage so shelves never empty during a busy day.
- **Watch price dips:** Buy in bulk when market prices drop, and hold stock.
- **Use the Product Locator** to restock faster.
- **Readability Mode (1.6.0)** makes the Market Computer UI larger; useful on Steam Deck or small screens.
- **Old stores after 1.5.0:** Some furniture was resized for the grid. If items overlap after updating, move them.
- **Controller support:** Vibration can be adjusted or turned off in Settings (1.5.0).

## FAQ

**Is Supermarket Simulator finished?**
Yes, it left Early Access on 19 June 2025 and is still getting updates (Patch 1.6.0 in August 2026).

**How do customers decide if prices are too high?**
They compare your price to the market price. Small markups are accepted; large ones cause complaints and lost sales.

**How do I unlock new products?**
Level your store by selling, then buy licences for new product categories.

**Can I play co-op?**
Yes. You can team up with up to four friends.

**Why do my shelves overlap after updating?**
Patch 1.5.0 resized some furniture for the new grid. Reposition overlapping items.

**Can I turn off online orders?**
Yes. Patch 1.6.0 added toggles for Online Orders and Wholesale Orders in Settings.

**What DLCs are there?**
Electronics, Hardware, Bakery, Ice Cream, Essentials and Vending Machine.

## Sources

- [Supermarket Simulator on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2670630/Supermarket_Simulator/)
- [Steam News: Supermarket Simulator](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2670630)