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:

• 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

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

• 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
• Steam News: Supermarket Simulator