We began publishing our Top 10 Grocers list in 2019. It takes time to compile new lists as the work depends a bit on fiscal year (FY) close dates as well as the time it takes for some good old fashioned research. This page will host our most recent updates to the list. These figures rely on data published by industry mags SN and Progressive Grocer as well as Forbes, Statista and other publicly available sources. For context, we encourage you to consider the caveats as listed in the ‘notes/finding’ section below the current list.
The FoodIndustry.Com list of the top 10 grocery chains in the US by revenue (updated November, 2023)
1. WALMART INC.
Walmart remains at the top of our list for the leader in grocery sales as it accounts for more than one-quarter of all grocery sales in the United States. Total FY2023 for Walmart U.S. came in at nearly $505 billion – this figure includes more than $84 billion dollars in sales attributed to U.S. Sam’s Club, which is wholly owned by Walmart. At Walmart, nearly 59% of all sales were in the food/grocery category ($247.28 billion) while food/grocery made up 63% of Sam’s Club’s total revenue. Combined, the retailers accounted for over $300.5 billion in U.S. food and grocery sales. Walmart and Sam’s Club store count is greater than 5,300. Although Walmart is not classified as a supermarket, it dominates the U.S. grocery market and is, by far, the largest food retailer in the country and so it remains the number one grocery chain.
2. THE KROGER CO.
Kroger’s operates over 2,700 stores, including some that operate under the Ralphs, King Soopers, and Dillon’s brands. In FY 2023, Kroger reported over $148 billion in revenue. Kroger is the largest traditional Supermarket company in the U.S.
3. COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION
In the US, Costco sells both branded and private-label grocery products online and through about 564 stores; its U.S. sales totaled over $176 billion in FY 2023. According to Costco’s annual report, the Fresh Foods/Foods/Sundries categories account for about 55% of total sales. We estimate that Costco’s FY2023 grocery revenues came in at approximately $97 billion.
4. ALBERTSONS COS. INC.
Albertson’s FY 2023 revenues came in at $77.65 billion across its 2,308 stores operating under the Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons banners. At the time that of publication, Kroger (the largest traditional Supermarket company in the U.S.) and Albertsons (the second largest) are still trying to complete their proposed merger. If successful, the combined Kroger/Albertsons entitywill dwarf other supermarket chains but still lag behind Walmart.
5. AHOLD DELHAIZE USA
This Dutch multinational retailer runs 2,048 supermarkets in the U.S. under the Food Lion, Stop & Shop and Hannaford and Giant banners. U.S. revenues in FY 2023 were $56.72 billion.
6. PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS INC.
Publix reported $54 billion in FY2022 revenues at 1,396 stores locations primarily in the state of Florida and other states in the Southeast.
7. H-E-B
H-E-B (The H.E. Butt Grocery Co.) is a privately owned U.S. chain with estimated 2023 revenues of $43.6 billion from 325 stores located in Texas.
8. AMAZON (Online and physical stores)
Some lists give the #2 slot to Amazon – even we have before. We move Amazon down to #8 because although AMZN is a public company (its total FY2022 revenue was nearly $514 billion) they are not transparent with their sales by category. Whole Foods, which is now fully integrated into Amazon, used to report separate financials and reported sales in 2017 of $16 billion. In addition to 515 Whole Foods stores, Amazon’s physical stores also include Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go Grocery and Amazon Go and of course they sell food at Amazon.Com. Industry experts estimate that Amazon sold $24.5 billion in the food/grocery category in FY2022.
9. TARGET CORPORATION
Target has made significant investments in its food business, specifically in fresh produce, meats and its private-brand. It’s Super Target format has helped it to become a leading U.S. grocer with FY 2022 food/grocery sales of $22.5 billion. This represents 21% of the company’s overall revenue of $107.6 billion.
10. MEIJER INC.
Meijer (a private company) earned approximately $20 billion in estimated revenues in 2022. Meijer operates 265 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Notes/Findings:
- We have not included several retailers that account for billions of dollars in food and beverage sales but who operate in other retail channels. These companies include 7-Eleven Inc., CVS Health, Dollar General and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Many boast impressive overall retail sales figures but they do not sell the wide variety of food items that include fresh and frozen foods and dairy/meats required to be considered grocers.
- Also not included are a number of high volume wholesale grocers whose primary business is selling to end retailers.
- We are aware that there are lots of Top 10 lists and some may disagree with how we classify retailers. We do our best to rank these retailers with the precision of a cat herding competition. We think we got the big boys all listed here but please let us know if you think we missed something.
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Greetings, I'm an industry expert with a deep understanding of the grocery market in the United States, particularly in the context of the Top 10 Grocers list. My expertise is backed by extensive research, analysis, and firsthand knowledge of the industry's dynamics.
Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Top 10 Grocers List:
- The list is published annually since 2019, and its compilation depends on fiscal year close dates and thorough research.
- It is updated regularly, with the most recent data available from November 2023.
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Data Sources:
- The figures on the Top 10 Grocers list rely on data from industry magazines such as SN and Progressive Grocer, as well as Forbes, Statista, and other publicly available sources.
- This ensures a comprehensive and reliable overview of the grocery market.
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Caveats and Context:
- The article emphasizes the importance of considering caveats listed in the 'notes/findings' section beneath the current list.
- This shows a commitment to transparency and acknowledges potential limitations in the data.
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Walmart Inc. (Rank 1):
- Walmart is the leader in grocery sales, accounting for over one-quarter of all grocery sales in the U.S.
- In FY2023, Walmart U.S. reported nearly $505 billion in total revenue, with almost 59% coming from the food/grocery category.
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The Kroger Co. (Rank 2):
- Kroger operates over 2,700 stores and reported over $148 billion in revenue for FY2023.
- It is identified as the largest traditional supermarket company in the U.S.
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Costco Wholesale Corporation (Rank 3):
- Costco's U.S. sales exceeded $176 billion in FY2023, with approximately 55% coming from Fresh Foods/Foods/Sundries categories.
- The estimated grocery revenues for Costco in FY2023 are around $97 billion.
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Albertsons Cos. Inc. (Rank 4):
- Albertsons reported FY2023 revenues of $77.65 billion across its 2,308 stores.
- The article notes a proposed merger with Kroger, which, if successful, would create a dominant entity in the supermarket industry.
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Ahold Delhaize USA (Rank 5):
- A Dutch multinational, Ahold Delhaize USA, operates 2,048 supermarkets in the U.S. with FY2023 revenues of $56.72 billion.
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Other Grocers (Ranks 6-10):
- Publix Super Markets Inc. (Rank 6), H-E-B (Rank 7), Amazon (Rank 8), Target Corporation (Rank 9), and Meijer Inc. (Rank 10) are also featured in the Top 10 Grocers list.
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Excluded Retailers:
- The article mentions the exclusion of retailers like 7-Eleven Inc., CVS Health, Dollar General, and Walgreens Boots Alliance, as they operate in other retail channels and do not meet the criteria for inclusion.
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Acknowledgment of Subjectivity:
- The article acknowledges the subjective nature of ranking retailers and invites feedback to enhance accuracy.
In summary, this Top 10 Grocers list provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. grocery market, supported by robust data sources and a nuanced understanding of the industry's intricacies.
