Is there a difference?

I sense that the terms %26quot;Traiteur%26quot;, %26quot;Epicerie%26quot;, and %26quot;Comestibiles%26quot; all refer to what we call in the US a grocery. I looked them up and traiteur means caterer, epicerie means spice store and comestibles means edibles. Yet when I go into a place with any of these names I find a small grocery. Is there a subtle difference in meaning between the three?

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%26quot;Traiteur%26quot; means they sell prepared dishes (meals or meal components: paella, quiche, etc.) - often combined with a butcher shop or something similar. It often means they can deliver prepared dishes (or even prepare them on the spot for you) too.

An %26quot;épicerie%26quot; is a grocery store (it WAS a %26quot;spice store%26quot; ages ago, but the meaning has evolved). In addition to food wares, it usually also sells household items like things for cleaning, etc.

%26quot;Comestibles%26quot; means food wares, so you might see that on the window or the shop front of a grocery (but probably less chance of finding cleaning liquid or tooth paste there).

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