How to Play Supermarket Sweep

Supermarket Sweep is a high-energy game show that combines trivia knowledge with athletic shopping skills. The format is straightforward: answer questions correctly to earn shopping time, then race through a supermarket to collect high-value items and accumulate the largest grocery bill. It's a unique blend of brains and brawn that keeps both contestants and viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Question Round

Each episode features three teams of two contestants competing for shopping time. The game begins with a question round where contestants are asked product-related trivia, brand questions, and brain teasers. Each correct answer earns the team additional seconds on the clock. Teams typically answer between three and six questions, with each correct response worth 10 additional seconds of shopping time. The faster you answer, the more time you bank for the crucial supermarket sweep portion.

The Big Sweep

Once the question round concludes, one designated runner from each team enters the supermarket while their partner remains at the checkout counter to unload and scan items. Teams are sent into the market based on their accumulated time—the team with the most time goes first, followed by the second and third place teams. The clock starts for each team at their earned time, and runners sprint through the aisles grabbing items they believe will have the highest prices. The goal is simple: accumulate the largest total value of groceries before time expires.

Rules and Penalties

While the shopping round sounds chaotic, there are strict rules that keep it fair. Runners can take up to five of each item, but if merchandise is knocked off a shelf or damaged, the runner must either place it in their cart or replace it on the shelf. Leaving items on the ground or failing to replace them incurs a $25 penalty per item. Only the designated runner can be in the supermarket during the sweep; partners must remain at the checkout counter to process and tally the items.

Winning and the Super Sweep

The team with the highest grocery bill wins the episode and advances to the Super Sweep bonus round. In this final challenge, the winning team receives one final burst of speed: the host sets the clock for 90 seconds, and contestants attempt to locate five specific products identified only by clues. Finding these high-value items can substantially increase the team's total winnings, making this bonus round the most intense moment of each episode.