in 1977, after relative stagnation, pathmark opened its first "super center", a larger, discount grocery store which also offered health and beauty aids, small appliances, and videotape rentals. these units generally were expanding and renovating existing stores. by december pathmark had pharmacies in 81 of its 103 supermarkets, horticulture departments in 64, bakery departments in 60, and "mini-bank branches" in 13. in its 1977 annual report, supermarkets general claimed its sales per store were the highest in the industry. "pathmark does more than three times the business in a store only 33% larger than the industry average," the report said.