The story of olive oil and italian food in general shows that it is possible to leave ethnic isle. All it has to do is to be no longer considered ethnic, which rarely happens. Supermarkets have on average over forty thousand items in their stores. Not only do store managers keep track of everything, but they also have a plan called the grocery nerd stuff.
If you’ve ever been to a supermarket in the US, you’ve probably seen an ethnic food aisle. Maybe it was called the "international aisle," or "world foods," but it was the same idea. This is the “It’s A Small World After All” part of the shopping experience. It’s where you’ll find ramen next to coconut milk, next to plantain chips next to harissa. Although ethnic aisles look different in every supermarket, they’re often variations on the same theme. And while so-called “ethnic food brands” get a chance to feed the American masses, they’re still confined to the ethnic aisle. And they may never leave.
It's a Small Aisle After All