we had a slightly diff system at the supermarket i worked at ('display boxes' that you had to bring up to the till, so i could radio to the back for someone to get it) but also frequently so few staff that uh, we couldn't actually do that. just miserable for every single person involved

Yeah, this set-up fundamentally does not work with the standard corporate set up of 'staff the location as sparsely as you can to save on pay costs', if you put everything away where shoppers can't pick the things up you need people whose whole JOB is to be on that aisle opening cases. Multiple.