In 2021, Kroger happened to be the leading retailer in the United States based on sales made through supermarket & neighborhood stores channel. The retailer had an estimated net sales of about ** billion U.S. dollars. Albertsons and Ahold Delhaize followed in the ranking with estimated net sales of **** billion U.S. dollars and **** billion U.S. dollars, respectively. It is forecast that by 2026, the ranking will be the same with Kroger's net sales amounting to **** billion U.S. dollars.

Supermarkets and grocery stores have significantly transformed in recent years, driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences. E-commerce has become a cornerstone of the industry, with over 70.0% of grocery retailers integrating online ordering and fulfillment into their operations in 2025. This shift has been fueled by consumer demand for convenience and efficient shopping experiences, prompting retailers to invest heavily in curbside pickup and home delivery services. Major players like Kroger have leveraged these innovations to maintain a competitive edge, while third-party delivery platforms like Instacart have enabled smaller grocers to compete with larger chains. The adoption of "dark stores" and AI-driven technologies has further optimized operations but heightened competition has limited revenue expansion. Over the past five years, revenue has been slipping at a CAGR of 0.1%, reversing course in 2025 to climb 1.1%, reaching $883.1 million. Over the past five years, the industry has faced rising labor costs and competition from discount grocers and private-label products. Automation has played a crucial role in managing these pressures, with more than 50.0% of transactions in major chains processed through self-checkout systems in 2025. Despite these advancements, wages have continued to rise, accounting for an estimated 10.7% of revenue. This has led retailers to focus on strategic pricing and the promotion of high-margin private-label products to sustain profit. The proliferation of discount grocers like Aldi and Lidl has intensified competition, forcing traditional supermarkets to innovate and adapt to retain market share. Looking ahead, supermarkets and grocery stores are likely to endure steady but marginal revenue growth over the next five years, influenced by economic and demographic factors. Increases in per capita disposable income and consumer spending suggest a stable economic environment that could bolster sales of premium and specialty grocery items. However, declines in the agricultural price index may pressure revenue growth, as lower prices could reduce sales value. Urban population growth will continue to drive demand for grocery products, encouraging retailers to adopt urban-centric strategies. Upcoming FDA regulations on product labeling and ongoing geopolitical tensions will present challenges and opportunities for the industry. Retailers that can navigate these complexities and align with evolving consumer preferences, such as the rise of functional foods and the "quiet luxury" trend, will be well-positioned to thrive in a rapidly changing market landscape. Revenue is anticipated to expand marginally over the next five years at a CAGR of less than 0.1%, totaling $883.3 million in 2030.

In 2024, total retail and food service sales reached **** trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in the United States. This is more than **** times the sales numbers that were generated in 1992, not adjusting for inflation. Leading retailers and store types In 2023, the leading food and grocery retailer in the United States was by far Walmart, which generated sales numbers of close to *** billion U.S. dollars that year. The Kroger Co., Costco Wholesale Club, and Ahold Delhaize were also among the top U.S. retailers. With a grocery market share of almost ** percent, the supermarket was the top store type in 2018. The warehouse clubs and superstores category stood in second place, accounting for almost a quarter of the U.S. market. Consumer habits The American consumer made an average of a little more than *** and a half trips to the grocery store per week in 2023. The average amount of trips has noticeably decreased, compared to a decade earlier. In recent times, online grocery shopping has also become an option for consumers. The concept is projected to grow considerably in the coming years, reaching roughly *** billion U.S. dollars’ worth of sales numbers in the United States by 2024.

According to April 2022 forecasts, Amazon will remain the leading online grocery retailer in the United States, with net e-commerce sales of **** billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Walmart is also expected to remain a leading grocery retailer in the U.S., with the second-highest net e-commerce sales in 2022 at **** billion U.S. dollars. By 2027, Kroger is set to take over Walgreens' third place, reaching **** billion in e-commerce net sales. Ahold Delhaize is forecast to record the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) among these U.S. grocery retailers.

In 2024, U.S. supermarket and other grocery store sales amounted to about ***** billion U.S. dollars. This is more than double the sales amounts that were generated back in 1992. Supermarkets and grocery stores in the U.S. WalMart stores dominated sales of the leading grocery retailers in 2023, generating close to *** billion U.S. dollars. Kroger and Ahold Delhaize each reached sales numbers of about *** and ** billion U.S. dollars, respectively, within the same period. In 2018, there were over 38,000 supermarket stores in the United States. Over ** percent of this total were supermarket chains. Supermarket formats In the United States, there are various types of supermarkets consumers can visit, such as natural/gourmet food supermarkets, warehouse grocery stores, and military commissaries. The most common type of supermarket in the country is one of the conventional kind. In 2018, there were just over ****** conventional supermarkets in the United States. The second most common type is the supercenter for groceries and mass merchandise, of which there were about ***** that year.

In 2024, annual sales of retail food and beverage stores in the United States amounted to approximately ****** billion U.S. dollars. This marked a constant increase during the reported period and more than double the amount registered two decades earlier. Food and beverages retail market In December 2024, monthly retail sales from U.S. food and beverage stores were estimated at approximately ***** billion U.S. dollars. This marked an increase of more than *** percent from the previous month, November 2024. Constituting a large part of the industry, the number of food and beverage retail stores in the United States in 2022 amounted to about *******. Supermarkets and other grocery stores were the most represented, numbering around ******, followed by beer, wine, and liquor stores numbering nearly ******. Leading food and grocery retailers and store types In 2023, the leading food and grocery retailer in the United States was by far Walmart, which generated sales numbers of close to *** billion U.S. dollars that year. The Kroger Co., Costco Wholesale Club, and Ahold Delhaize were also among the top U.S. retailers. In 2022, supermarkets and other grocery stores took the lion's share of food and beverage retail store sales with about **** percent, while beer, wine, and liquor stores took the second highest share of sales with *** percent.