ELI5: why do grocery stores in the US keep such a large inventory? Aside from being prepared for episodic panic buying like toilet paper or bottled water, is there an economic reason to do this? How much of the food ends up going bad? Submitted by DrEverythingBAlright t3_11danyo on February 27, 2023 at 12:27 PM in explainlikeimfive 101 comments 103