The gourmet supermarket Whole Foods Market had net sales amounting to just over ** billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up from **** billion U.S. dollars in the previous year. Whole Foods Market Key Figures Whole Foods Market has expanded rapidly in the last decade, growing from *** locations in 2008 to nearly 500 locations in 2017. That was the same year in which Whole Foods was acquired by the e-commerce giant Amazon for **** billion U.S. dollars. Whole Foods Market and Consumers Compared to larger food retailers like Walmart and Aldi, relatively few Americans have shopped at a Whole Foods Market in the past six months; only * percent according to a 2017 survey. When it comes to overall customer satisfaction, Whole Foods Market scored ** points out of 100, above the U.S. average for supermarkets but below other prominent retailers such as Costco, Trader Joe’s and Sam’s Club.

In 2017, the global net income of Whole Foods Market amounted to 245 million U.S. dollars. In 2016, the company registered a gain in its global net income of 507 million U.S. dollars.

The timeline shows the advertising expenditure of Whole Foods Market worldwide from 2013 to 2017. For the 52 weeks ended on September 24, 2017, the total advertising expense of Whole Foods Market amounted to approximately 113 million U.S. dollars. Whole Foods Market is an organic grocery retailer, operating stores in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Whole Foods Market

The United States was the world’s largest organic food market in 2015, accounting for over half of organic retail sales. That year, global sales of organic food products exceeded 80 billion U.S. dollars. Tagged as “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store™”, Whole Foods Market is a U.S. supermarket chain which specializes in organic food. The company had its beginnings in 1980, when John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy opened SaferWay, a small natural foods store in Austin, Texas. The merger between SaferWay and Clarksville Natural Grocery resulted in the opening of the first Whole Foods Market on September 20, 1980. Over the past five years, Whole Foods Market has generated some twelve to sixteen billion U.S. dollars in annual net sales worldwide. The company’s U.S. retail stores accounted for the majority of global sales—only three percent of sales came from Canadian and U.K. retailers in 2017. Sales of non-perishable products comprised roughly one-third of total sales during this period, while prepared food and bakery products brought in nearly 19 percent. Furthermore, the company’s total net income amounted to 245 million U.S. dollars during the 52-week period ended September 24, 2017. Whole Foods Market is a major player in the international organic food industry, with 470 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

For the first time in almost a decade, online retail platform Amazon reported a net loss of 2.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. After that, in the fiscal year ending December 31st 2024, the net income amounted to 59.2 billion U.S. dollars. Amazon Web Services Amazon does not rely on retailing alone to generate profits. Its cloud business, AWS, is the one segment raking in steady profits with a 24.6 billion U.S. dollar operating income in the most recently reported year. The annual revenue of the business segment came to 90.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. As of the fourth quarter 2023, Amazon Web Services accounted for 31 percent of the global cloud infrastructure service market. Amazon’s other businessesDue to the company’s financial resources, Amazon has the capability to invest in new products and markets, such as online and offline grocery sales. In June 2017, Amazon purchased grocery retailer Whole Foods Market for 13.7 billion U.S. dollars, the company’s most expensive acquisition by far. This acquisition was primarily a move to expand the company's online grocery business, one of the fastest growing online shopping trends in the United States.

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.

The total value of food sales in Russia has been increasing steadily year-over-year, reaching almost 20 trillion Russian rubles in 2023. To compare, in 2009, the figure stood at 6.4 trillion Russian rubles.

The organic, gourmet or all-natural products of the Specialty Food Stores industry in Canada have flown off shelves as consumers have reached for differentiated goods that aren't sold at standard retail and grocery outlets. These products sell at premium prices and the combination of increasingly health-conscious consumers and disposable income growth has allowed retailers to charge higher prices. Consumer demand for organic and other specialty foods has driven a broad rise in revenue for specialty food retailers. Industry revenue expanded at an estimated 4.7% CAGR over the five years to 2024 to reach $5.3 billion in 2024, including a 1.2% boost during this year. While favourable shifts in consumer preferences have helped boost industry revenue, rising external competition has also constrained the performance of specialty food stores. Retailers have endured high competition from the specialty food aisles of mainstream supermarkets and grocery stores, in addition to unconventional retail channels, like online food retailers and convenience stores. Traditional grocery stores account for most of the Canadian retail food market and there's little room for other food retailers. Whole Foods is perhaps the most prominent example of this sharp rise in competition from supermarket chains; the major natural food chain currently has 14 Canadian locations and is expanding, threatening the market position of small stores. The industry will face greater competition from natural food stores and regular supermarkets moving forward, as both retail segments focus on offering the same products sold at specialty stores. Since larger stores are generally able to sell products at lower prices than specialty retailers, stores will be forced to lower prices and focus on niche markets. Nonetheless, specialty retailers differentiate themselves on their ability to provide a tailored experience and stock items that have low throughput. The industry will ultimately benefit from the expanding economy, with rising disposable income and consumer spending driving spending on more expensive goods. Industry revenue is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 1.3% over the next five years to reach $5.6 billion in 2029.

Russia Structure of Retail Price: Whole Milk: Pasteurized: Profit(Loss) from Goods Selling data was reported at 6.120 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.690 % for 2016. Russia Structure of Retail Price: Whole Milk: Pasteurized: Profit(Loss) from Goods Selling data is updated yearly, averaging 4.905 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2017, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.120 % in 2017 and a record low of 4.220 % in 2014. Russia Structure of Retail Price: Whole Milk: Pasteurized: Profit(Loss) from Goods Selling data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Prices – Table RU.PF001: Structure of Retail Price: Food Products: Annual.

Norway NO: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Inward: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data was reported at 1,264.000 NOK mn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 856.000 NOK mn for 2022. Norway NO: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Inward: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data is updated yearly, averaging 1,264.000 NOK mn from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2023, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,793.000 NOK mn in 2015 and a record low of 282.000 NOK mn in 2020. Norway NO: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Inward: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.OECD.FDI: Foreign Direct Investment Income: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual. Reverse investment:Reverse investment in equity (when a direct investment enterprise acquires less than 10% equity ownership in its parent) is treated as portfolio investment. A survey is underway to evaluate the importance of reverse investment in equity. Netting of reverse investment in debt (when a direct investment enterprise extends a loan to its parent) is applied in the recording of total inward and outward FDI transactions and positions. Treatment of debt positions between fellow enterprises: directional basis according to the residency of the ultimate controlling parent (extended directional principle). FDI transactions and positions by partner country and/or by industry are available excluding and including resident Special Purpose Entities (SPEs). The dataset 'FDI statistics by parner country and by industry - Summary' contains series excluding resident SPEs only. Valuation method used for listed inward equity positions: Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for listed outward equity positions: Own funds at book value, Book values. Valuation method used for unlisted inward equity positions: Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for unlisted outward equity positions: Own funds at book value, Book value. Valuation method used for inward and outward debt positions: Book value.; FDI statistics are available by geographic allocation, vis-à-vis single partner countries worldwide and geographical and economic zones aggregates. Partner country allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Geographic allocation of inward and outward FDI transactions and positions is according to the immediate counterparty. Intercompany debt between related financial intermediaries, including permanent debt, are excluded from FDI positions. Direct investment relationships are identified according to the criteria of the Framework for Direct Investment Relationships (FDIR) method. Debt between fellow enterprises are partially covered. Collective investment institutions are partially covered as direct investment enterprises. Non-profit institutions serving households are covered as direct investors. FDI statistics are available by industry sectors according to ISIC4 classification. Industry sector allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Inward FDI transactions and positions are allocated to the activity of the resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI transactions are allocated according to the activity of the resident direct investor. Outward FDI positions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Statistical unit: Enterprise.

Slovakia SK: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Inward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data was reported at 102.030 USD mn in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 114.195 USD mn for 2021. Slovakia SK: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Inward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data is updated yearly, averaging 83.128 USD mn from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2022, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 114.195 USD mn in 2021 and a record low of 19.626 USD mn in 2018. Slovakia SK: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Inward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovakia – Table SK.OECD.FDI: Foreign Direct Investment Income: USD: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual. Treatment of debt FDI transactions and positions between fellow enterprises: directional basis according to the residency of the ultimate controlling parent (extended directional principle). Resident Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) do not exist or are not significant and are recorded as zero in the FDI database. Valuation method used for listed inward and outward equity positions: Market value, Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for unlisted inward and outward equity positions: Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for inward and outward debt positions: Nominal value.; FDI statistics are available by geographic allocation, vis-à-vis single partner countries worldwide and geographical and economic zones aggregates. Partner country allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Geographic allocation of inward and outward FDI transactions and positions is according to the immediate counterparty. Intercompany debt between related financial intermediaries, including permanent debt, are excluded from FDI transactions and positions. Direct investment relationships are identified according to the criteria of the Framework for Direct Investment Relationships (FDIR) method. Debt between fellow enterprises are completely covered. Collective investment institutions are not covered as direct investment enterprises. Non-profit institutions serving households are covered as direct investors. FDI statistics are available by industry sectors according to ISIC4 classification. Industry sector allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Inward FDI transactions and positions are allocated to the activity of the resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI transactions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI positions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Statistical unit: Unspecified.

Japan JP: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data was reported at 7.829 USD bn in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.729 USD bn for 2022. Japan JP: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data is updated yearly, averaging 5.297 USD bn from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2023, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.729 USD bn in 2022 and a record low of 2.769 USD bn in 2016. Japan JP: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.OECD.FDI: Foreign Direct Investment Income: USD: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual. Reverse investment: Netting of reverse investment in equity (when a direct investment enterprise acquires less than 10% equity ownership in its parent) and reverse investment in debt (when a direct investment enterprise extends a loan to its parent) is applied in the recording of total inward and outward FDI transactions and positions. Treatment of debt FDI transactions and positions between fellow enterprises: directional basis according to the residency of the direct investor. FDI financial flows, income flows and positions include, if they exist, resident Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) which cannot be identified separately. Valuation method used for listed inward and outward equity positions: Own funds at book value, Accumulation of FDI equity flows. Valuation method used for unlisted inward and outward equity positions: Own funds at book value, Accumulation of FDI equity flows. Valuation method used for inward and outward debt positions: Nominal value .; FDI statistics are available by geographic allocation, vis-à-vis single partner countries worldwide and geographical and economic zones aggregates. Partner country allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Geographic allocation of inward and outward FDI transactions and positions is according to the immediate counterparty. Inward FDI positions according to the ultimate counterparty (the ultimate investing country) are also available and publishable. In the dataset 'FDI statistics by parner country and by industry - Summary', inward FDI positions are showed according to the UIC. Intercompany debt between related financial intermediaries, including permanent debt, are excluded from FDI transactions and positions. Direct investment relationships are identified according to the criteria of the Framework for Direct Investment Relationships (FDIR) method. Debt between fellow enterprises are completely covered . Collective investment institutions are covered as direct investment enterprises. Non-profit institutions serving households are covered as direct investors. FDI statistics are available by industry sectors according to ISIC4 classification. Industry sector allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Inward FDI transactions and positions are allocated to the activity of the resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI transactions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Statistical unit: Enterprise.

Czech Republic CZ: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data was reported at 121.096 USD mn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 108.234 USD mn for 2022. Czech Republic CZ: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data is updated yearly, averaging 91.784 USD mn from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2023, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 236.008 USD mn in 2020 and a record low of -22.066 USD mn in 2018. Czech Republic CZ: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Manufacture of Food Products: Beverages and Tobacco Products data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Czech Republic – Table CZ.OECD.FDI: Foreign Direct Investment Income: USD: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual. Reverse investment: Netting of reverse investment in equity (when a direct investment enterprise acquires less than 10% equity ownership in its parent) and reverse investment in debt (when a direct investment enterprise extends a loan to its parent) is not applied in the recording of total inward and outward FDi transactions and positions. Such cases have never been observed. Treatment of debt FDI transactions and positions between fellow enterprises: directional basis according to the residency of the direct investor. Resident Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) do not exist or are not significant and are recorded as zero in the FDI database. Valuation method used for listed inward and outward equity positions: Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for unlisted inward and outward equity positions: Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for inward and outward debt positions: Nominal value.; FDI statistics are available by geographic allocation, vis-à-vis single partner countries worldwide and geographical and economic zones aggregates. Partner country allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Geographic allocation of inward and outward FDI transactions and positions is according to the immediate counterparty. Inward FDI positions according to the ultimate counterparty (the ultimate investing country) are also available and publishable. In the dataset 'FDI statistics by parner country and by industry - Summary', inward FDI positions are showed according to the UIC. Intercompany debt between related financial intermediaries, including permanent debt, are excluded from FDI transactions and positions. Direct investment relationships are identified according to the criteria of the Framework for Direct Investment Relationships (FDIR) method. Debt between fellow enterprises are completely covered. Collective investment institutions are covered as direct investment enterprises. FDI statistics are available by industry sectors according to ISIC4 classification. Industry sector allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Inward FDI transactions and positions are allocated to the activity of the resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI transactions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI positions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Statistical unit: Enterprise.

Slovakia SK: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Accommodation and Food Service Activities data was reported at 0.019 USD mn in 2019. Slovakia SK: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Accommodation and Food Service Activities data is updated yearly, averaging 0.019 USD mn from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2019, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.019 USD mn in 2019 and a record low of 0.019 USD mn in 2019. Slovakia SK: Foreign Direct Investment Income: Outward: USD: Total: Accommodation and Food Service Activities data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovakia – Table SK.OECD.FDI: Foreign Direct Investment Income: USD: by Industry: OECD Member: Annual. Treatment of debt FDI transactions and positions between fellow enterprises: directional basis according to the residency of the ultimate controlling parent (extended directional principle). Resident Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) do not exist or are not significant and are recorded as zero in the FDI database. Valuation method used for listed inward and outward equity positions: Market value, Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for unlisted inward and outward equity positions: Own funds at book value. Valuation method used for inward and outward debt positions: Nominal value.; FDI statistics are available by geographic allocation, vis-à-vis single partner countries worldwide and geographical and economic zones aggregates. Partner country allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Geographic allocation of inward and outward FDI transactions and positions is according to the immediate counterparty. Intercompany debt between related financial intermediaries, including permanent debt, are excluded from FDI transactions and positions. Direct investment relationships are identified according to the criteria of the Framework for Direct Investment Relationships (FDIR) method. Debt between fellow enterprises are completely covered. Collective investment institutions are not covered as direct investment enterprises. Non-profit institutions serving households are covered as direct investors. FDI statistics are available by industry sectors according to ISIC4 classification. Industry sector allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Inward FDI transactions and positions are allocated to the activity of the resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI transactions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI positions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Statistical unit: Unspecified.

This statistic depicts organic food sales in the United States from 2005 to 2023. In 2023, organic food sales in the United States amounted to about 63.8 billion U.S. dollars.

Organic food

Organic foods are foods that are manufactured using organic farming standards. Those agricultural standards are regulated by the department of government responsible for them and contain regulations for the cultivation of food and animal welfare. In particular, the use of chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics is not allowed or only partly permitted. In addition, fewer food additives are permitted for the processing of organic foods. In the United States, organic foods are certified by the National Organic Program. Products which have fulfilled the criteria are labeled with the term ‘organic’ on the food packaging.

Organic food sales have experienced tremendous growth in the last decade. For this reason, not only specialized retailers sell organic foods but also traditional supermarkets and discounters. Widely known specialized organic retailers in the United States include Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market. Whole Foods Market is the largest specialized organic retailer in the United States with headquarters in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1980 and operates more than 472 stores around the world.

In general, organic foods are usually offered at a higher price level than their conventional counterparts.

Among Millennials, the by now largest generation in the U.S., a sizeable share of almost 40 percent count organic food as one of their leading food priorities.

Whether or not organic foods are healthier and more nutritious compared to conventionally farmed produce is a much debated subject. Up to now, no evidence of significant differences between the two farming methods where taste or health are concerned has been established.

Grocery store sales have grown dramatically since the 90’s. Since 1992, sales have more than doubled. The total sales generated by grocery stores in the United States in 2024 amounted to ***** billion U.S. dollars. Top Supermarket Chains The U.S. grocery retail market is dominated by chain supermarkets. In 2018 there were around ****** chain supermarket locations in the United States, compared to only ***** independent supermarkets. The leading American supermarket in terms of sales is the Kroger Company, which owns and operates several smaller supermarket chains across the United States. In 2023, Kroger’s total retail sales reached close to *** billion U.S. dollars. The runner-up, Albertsons, generated some **** billion U.S. dollars in sales that year. Americans at the Grocery Store Going to the grocery store is a familiar and comforting ritual for many Americans. In 2017, a survey of American households found that ** percent of Americans make a weekly trip to the grocery store, while some *** percent went to the grocery store four to seven times in a week. Although many products on the shelves of U.S. supermarkets claim to have various health benefits or that they were produced or sourced ethically, American consumers are most drawn to food products that claim to be fresh or farm-fresh.