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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I'm an industry expert in the field of grocery retail, with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics, trends, and key players in the market. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, firsthand experience, and an in-depth analysis of industry publications, financial reports, and reputable sources. Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article about the Top 10 Grocers in the US:
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Walmart Inc.:
- Walmart is the leading grocery sales retailer, capturing over one-quarter of all grocery sales in the United States.
- In FY2023, Walmart U.S. recorded nearly $505 billion in total revenue, with approximately $247.28 billion attributed to food/grocery sales.
- Walmart and Sam’s Club combined accounted for over $300.5 billion in U.S. food and grocery sales, maintaining dominance in the market.
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The Kroger Co.:
- Kroger operates as the largest traditional supermarket company in the U.S.
- With over 2,700 stores, Kroger reported revenue exceeding $148 billion in FY2023.
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Costco Wholesale Corporation:
- Costco, with 564 stores, achieved U.S. sales totaling over $176 billion in FY2023.
- Fresh Foods/Foods/Sundries categories contribute about 55% to Costco's total sales, estimating grocery revenues at approximately $97 billion for FY2023.
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Albertsons Cos. Inc.:
- Albertsons reported FY2023 revenues of $77.65 billion across its 2,308 stores.
- There is a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons that, if successful, would create a significant entity in the supermarket industry.
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Ahold Delhaize USA:
- A Dutch multinational retailer, Ahold Delhaize USA, operates 2,048 supermarkets with FY2023 revenues of $56.72 billion.
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Publix Super Markets Inc.:
- Publix reported $54 billion in FY2022 revenues from 1,396 stores, primarily located in the Southeastern United States.
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H-E-B (H.E. Butt Grocery Co.):
- H-E-B, a privately-owned chain, is estimated to have revenues of $43.6 billion in 2023 from 325 stores in Texas.
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Amazon (Online and Physical Stores):
- Amazon, despite being a public company with a total FY2022 revenue of nearly $514 billion, is ranked eighth due to a lack of transparency in category-specific sales.
- Industry experts estimate Amazon's food/grocery category sales at $24.5 billion in FY2022.
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Target Corporation:
- Target, with significant investments in its food business, recorded FY2022 food/grocery sales of $22.5 billion, representing 21% of the company’s overall revenue of $107.6 billion.
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Meijer Inc.:
- Meijer, a private company, earned approximately $20 billion in estimated revenues in 2022 from 265 supercenters and grocery stores.
Notes/Findings:
- Several retailers with significant food and beverage sales, such as 7-Eleven Inc., CVS Health, Dollar General, and Walgreens Boots Alliance, are not included due to their focus on other retail channels.
- The article acknowledges the presence of various Top 10 lists and potential disagreements in classification, emphasizing their efforts to rank retailers accurately.
For further information, related links provided in the article cover topics such as the largest supermarket in the United States, the 10 largest food manufacturers globally by revenue, and the overall value of the U.S. food industry.
