Generating close to *** billion U.S. dollars’ worth of sales in 2023, Walmart was by far the leading food and grocery retailer in the United States. The retail giant made more than double the amounts generated by The Kroger Co., which ranked ****** that year. Food & grocery retailers While Walmart is a large and established food and grocery retailer, new companies are emerging on the market. Some of the fastest-growing retailers between 2014 and 2019 included Amazon.com, Dollar Tree, and Albertsons Cos. Amazon.com’s food and grocery sales grew by almost ** percent during that period and in 2020 totaled *** billion U.S. dollars. Walmart Walmart is an American retail corporation that was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. That year, the very first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas, and the number of locations has been growing ever since. By 2024, there were almost ****** stores across the globe, which were visited by customers an average of *** million times a week.

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.

Walmart was far and away the leader of the grocery industry in the United States in 2017, controlling over ********* of the market. Kroger, the next largest grocer, was a distant second with a ** percent market share. Over ** percent of the grocery market is occupied by smaller retailers. Retail giant Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. The company not only has the largest share of the U.S. grocery market but is the largest retailer overall in the world. In 2017, Walmart’s revenue exceeded *** billion U.S. dollars. E-commerce giant Second only to Amazon, a recent survey shows that Walmart is a leading player in the online grocery market space. Food and beverage e-commerce sales of the retailer topped out at over *** billion dollars for the U.S. market in 2018. Growth of the company’s e-commerce sales have been extremely strong. Average quarterly growth over the last fiscal year was ** percent.

In 2025, the leading grocery stores in the United States held close to two thirds of the total industry market share. Walmart held the top position with **** percent, followed by Kroger at just under **** percent. Kroger Co. As one of the leading supermarket chains, Kroger has been become a favorite among consumers. Founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883, the company opened its first store in Cincinnati, Ohio and now operates more than ***** grocery retail stores in the United States. Grocery shopping behavior Among the diverse options for food acquisition, supermarkets and superstores are the preferred for consumers. Even though online grocery shopping is on the rise, it is still not up to par with warehouse clubs or discount stores. When it comes to frequency, grocery shopping trips have decreased since the early 2000s, perhaps to adapt to economic pressures like inflation, which has drastically changed the way consumers shop.

The United States food and grocery retailing market was valued at USD 1.74 Billion in 2024. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.30% during the forecast period of 2025-2034 to attain a valuation of USD 2.41 Billion by 2034.

Generating close to *** billion U.S. dollars’ worth of sales in 2023, Walmart was by far the leading food and grocery retailer in the United States. The retail giant made more than double the amounts generated by The Kroger Co., which ranked ****** that year. Food & grocery retailers While Walmart is a large and established food and grocery retailer, new companies are emerging on the market. Some of the fastest-growing retailers between 2014 and 2019 included Amazon.com, Dollar Tree, and Albertsons Cos. Amazon.com’s food and grocery sales grew by almost ** percent during that period and in 2020 totaled *** billion U.S. dollars. Walmart Walmart is an American retail corporation that was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. That year, the very first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas, and the number of locations has been growing ever since. By 2024, there were almost ****** stores across the globe, which were visited by customers an average of *** million times a week.

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.

The Food & Grocery Retail Market size was valued at USD 12,266.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD XXX billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.2 % during the forecasts period. Food & grocery retail means to sell fruits and daily essential products directly to the customers through brick and mortar stores such as supermarkets & hypermarkets, convenience stores, grocery stores, specialty stores as well as online platforms. The demand of food & grocery has been increasing due to increasing number of middle-class population especially in developing economies. Furthermore, the growth of the millennial and Generation Z customer segments and increased adoption of online platforms for purchasing food and grocery is expected to accelerate growth. Food & grocery retailers also offers their private label brands at competitive pricing and sustainable packaging to attract more customers is expected to pose significant growth in the global food & global retail industry. Recent developments include: In September 2023, Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies Inc. have officially entered into a binding agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC for the sale of specific stores, banners, distribution centers, offices, and private label brands. This transaction is part of their planned merger, which was initially disclosed on October 14, 2022. , In September 2023, C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC (C&S), a prominent player in wholesale grocery supply and supply chain solutions within the United States, has formally committed to acquiring 413 stores, eight distribution centers, and two offices. These assets became available as a result of the planned merger between The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies Inc. .

Walmart captured a **** percent share of the U.S. food and beverage market, making it the top food and beverage retailer in the United States in 2016. Kroger came in second place, with an *** percent share of the market. Walmart in the United States Walmart is by far the biggest retailer in the United States. In 2017, the company generated about ***** billion U.S. dollars in retail sales in the United States. To put that figure in perspective, the e-commerce giant Amazon.com only had retail sales of about *** billion U.S. dollars. Between 2015 and 2019, the U.S. segment of Walmart has experienced positive and increasingly larger sales growth rates. Between 2018 and 2019, Walmart U.S. sales increased by *** percent. U.S. Supermarkets As of 2018, there were about ****** supermarkets in the United States. Most of these supermarkets are categorized as conventional supermarkets. Some other common types of supermarkets are supercenters, limited assortment supermarkets, and natural/gourmet food markets. About ** percent of all U.S. supermarket sales are attributed to the perishables department. This department includes meat, fresh produce, and dairy, among other categories.

The global food and grocery retail market is expected to grow from USD 12.8 trillion in 2025 to USD 17.7 trillion by 2035, reflecting a CAGR of 3.3%. The food and grocery retail market is growing rapidly due to several important factors. Increasing urbanization is a major driver as more people move to cities, which boosts demand for organized retail formats like supermarkets and hypermarkets.

Country wise Insights

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores: Retailing of Food and Beverage Products (PCU44511044511032) from Jan 2017 to Aug 2025 about groceries, beverages, food, production, retail, PPI, industry, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores: Retailing of Frozen Food Products (PCU445110445110326) from Dec 1999 to Aug 2025 about groceries, food, production, retail, PPI, industry, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

In 2024, annual sales of retail food and beverage stores in the United States amounted to approximately 1000.6 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 90.60 billion U.S. dollars. This marked an increase of more than 5.3 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 162,000. Supermarkets and other grocery stores were the most represented, numbering around 66,000, followed by beer, wine, and liquor stores numbering nearly 37,000. 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 442 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 85.1 percent, while beer, wine, and liquor stores took the second highest share of sales with 7.4 percent.

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.

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.

Driven by the rising Hispanic and Asian populations in the US and an increase in at-home cooking during the pandemic, ethnic supermarkets have seen a significant surge in their consumer base. Besides, the sizeable spike in the immigrant population in the US also reinforces the growth of small ethnic grocers despite fierce competition from traditional supermarket chains. As a result, ethnic supermarkets are expected to continue their growth trajectory. The industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.1% over the five years to 2025, amounting to $58.9 billion. This growth is also expected in 2025 when ethnic supermarkets' sales are expected to grow by 0.1%. In the 1970s and '80s, a marked increase in Asian immigration to the United States gave rise to grocery stores such as H Mart, Patel Brothers and 99 Ranch Market. Initiated in places like Chicago and the suburbs and outer boroughs of major cities, these stores were established to cater to immigrants' need for familiar tastes. Today, Asian flavors have swiftly captured the interest of Americans. Analysis by the data analytics firm Circana shows that US supermarkets saw almost a fourfold increase in sales from their "Asian/ethnic aisle" from April 2023 to April 2024, compared to overall sales growth. Asian grocery stores play a vital role in this change, more so than restaurants, cookbooks or online videos. However, the stricter immigration policies starting in 2025 will slow down the immigrant population, which is the industry's target customer base. Still, the threat to smaller ethnic grocers persists. Traditional grocery stores are stepping up, ready to cater to the growing ethnic communities. Such competition, along with price wars, may decelerate supermarkets' revenue growth. As the immigration crackdown is expected to continue during the outlook period, the road ahead for ethnic supermarkets may not be as smooth as expected. Overall, revenue for ethnic supermarkets is expected to increase an annualized 1.1% to $62.2 billion over the five years to 2030.

This statistic highlights online grocery shopping sales in the United States from 2019 through 2024. The U.S. online grocery market was estimated to generate sales worth of about 95.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, with sales forecast to reach 187.7 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. Among the leading online food and beverage retailers in 2016, were Amazon and Walmart. Online grocery shoppingGrocery sales through online platforms represent a very small part of the overall grocery retail market, but are amongst the fastest growing segment. Some people don’t enjoy the hassle of traditional grocery shopping, especially to stand in a queue before check-out. If consumers use the convenience of an online grocery service, they can pick their everyday products on the distributor’s website and will get the chosen items delivered right to their doorstep, which saves time. Most online suppliers in the United States provide same-day delivery options. During the last years, more and more firms tried to gain a foothold within the e-grocery industry. Companies engaged in the U.S. online grocery market include AmazonFresh, FreshDirect, NetGrocer, Walmart and Safeway. A relatively new and innovative business model is supplied by Instacart. The San Francisco-based company is a grocery transport service that delivers the grocery order through personal shoppers in one to two hours. As of February 2015, Instacart charged 3.99 U.S. dollars per two-hour deliveries and 14.99 U.S. dollars per one-hour deliveries. The personal shoppers purchase the chosen items at different local food stores and deliver them to your house within the agreed time window. The use of virtual grocery stores has still a large growth potential as more and more time-strapped consumers are looking for innovative ways to make their lives easier. However, a significant hurdle for online grocers remains freshness as many customers still prefer to see and touch the produce before purchase.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Grocery Store market size was USD XX million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.80% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2024 to 2031.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2024 to 2031.
The Retail Chain category is the fastest growing segment of the Grocery Store industry

Market Dynamics of Grocery Store Market

Key Drivers for Grocery Store Market

Growing Consumer Interest in Organic and Fresh Foods to Boost Market Growth: The market for grocery stores is significantly influenced by consumers' increased interest in fresh and organic foods. Organic vegetables, dairy, meats, and other minimally processed foods are becoming more and more popular among health-conscious consumers because of their perceived quality, environmental impact, and health benefits. Growing consumer awareness of pesticide use, genetically modified organisms, and additives has led them to favour products with organic labels and those supplied locally. In response, grocery stores have increased the variety of organic products they provide and established special areas, which draw in a devoted clientele and strengthen their brand identity. This change further supports the expansion of the grocery business by being in line with trends toward eco-friendly and sustainable practices.

Growth of Private Label Goods to Drive Market Growth: As private label items provide merchants with larger profit margins and competitive pricing, their expansion is a key factor in the grocery store industry. Store-branded private labels are popular among budget-conscious shoppers seeking high-quality substitutes for national brands. More control over pricing and production allows supermarkets and grocery stores to customize products to consumer tastes and new trends, such as organic or gluten-free options. Because consumers are drawn to unique products that aren't found anywhere else, private labels also encourage customer loyalty, which eventually improves store distinction and boosts total grocery sector sales.

Key Restraint for Grocery Store Market

Increasing Online Retailer Competition Will Limit Market Growth: The grocery store sector is being restrained by the growing competition from online retailers, as customers are attracted to the ease of online shopping and doorstep delivery. With their extensive assortment, affordable costs, and easy-to-use platforms that simplify shopping, e-commerce behemoths and grocery delivery services are alluring substitutes for conventional grocery stores. Due to this change, fewer people are visiting physical businesses, particularly younger, tech-savvy shoppers. Online merchants also frequently provide subscription-based discounts and tailored promotions, which help them gain market share. Digital trends are difficult for traditional grocery stores to adopt, which may hinder their expansion and financial success.

Key Trends for Grocery Stores

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Initiatives: Consumers are increasingly favoring retailers that are dedicated to minimizing plastic consumption, food waste, and carbon emissions. Grocery stores are embracing sustainable packaging, providing locally sourced produce, and establishing recycling initiatives to resonate with eco-conscious consumer values and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria.

Personalization Through Data Analytics and Loyalty Programs: Retailers are utilizing purchase history and behavioral...

Supermarkets have maintained stable volume-driven business strategies amid a pricing environment that has been in the spotlight. Conflict in the Middle East, avian flu outbreaks and other inflationary pressures have driven prices up, with many stores passing on these costs to consumers. While consumers are paying more for groceries and upstream suppliers are seeing their margins shrink, supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have maintained relatively stable profit margins, among the highest in the world. The continued expansion of Aldi and Amazon has forced the two established industry giants to shift gears recently to remain price-competitive on both the physical store and online service fronts, launching short-term price discounting initiatives. These supermarket giants also rely on loyalty programs and promotions. Coles and Woolworths have displayed interest in data analytics, strengthening their relationships with analytics data giants like Palantir to optimise their marketing and operational processes. The ACCC's landmark supermarkets inquiry, while not finding evidence of price gouging, identified 20 key recommendations that would ensure a more sustainable market and avoid oligopolistic exploitation. Supermarket and grocery revenue rose significantly following the COVID-19 outbreak. A combination of panic buying, along with the suspension of many specials and promotions in supermarkets, boosted grocery turnover at the beginning of the period, spiking revenue for the two years through 2020-21. This high benchmark at the start of the period has resulted in an industry correction and an annualised revenue contraction of 0.4% to $144.3 billion over the five years through 2025-26. Revenue is estimated to climb 0.4% in 2025-26, reflecting the price-driven industry growth that falling tobacco sales have offset. Supermarkets and grocery stores are set to perform well, with industry revenue slated to climb at an annualised 1.5% through 2030-31 to $155.6 billion. Population growth will remain a key growth factor that stores rely on, as many continue a volume-driven business approach to generating revenue. Should the transparency-related recommendations from the ACCC's inquiry be implemented, some price-driven growth may be curtailed. Eventually, when inflationary pressures subside and consumer sentiment returns to a positive level, supermarkets and grocers will be well-positioned to take advantage of consumer appetite for value-added and premium goods. Strong growth in online sales is set to continue.