Special Report
The Most Successful Food and Grocery Retailers in North America
Published:
Because of the nature of the grocery business, independent operations are far outnumbered by units of major chains — whether they’re regional powerhouses, like H-E-B in Texas or Wegman’s in the Northeast, or national operations doing business under multiple brand names (for instance, Kroger or Albertsons). The chains have the buying power, the advertising and promotional resources, and the sheer scale to compete most efficiently in the field. (The median size of supermarkets in the U.S. is 41,561 square feet — almost an acre.)
It might surprise some to learn, however, that some of the biggest purveyors of food, whether packaged or fresh, aren’t supermarkets at all. Walmart leads the pack by far, with sales more than three times those of the highest ranked conventional grocery chain (Kroger). Costco and Target are major players in the food business, too, as are dollar stores and drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens. These are the U.S. counties with the most pharmacies per capita.
Click here to see the 50 most successful food and grocery retailers in America
To identify the chains in all these categories with the most robust sales of consumable goods in the United States and Canada, 24/7 Tempo consulted “Top 50 Food and Grocery Retailers by Sales,” just released by the respected food industry publication Supermarket News (SN). The report was compiled by SN in collaboration with IGD, a leading food and consumer goods industry consulting firm based in the UK. These are considered the best supermarkets in America.
Sales figures don’t include the projected results of any pending mergers or acquisitions. Companies don’t always break out food sales from sales of pharmacy items and other items, so this list reflects the most successful retailers who sell food and grocery products, not necessarily those who have the highest sales of such items.
50. Tops Friendly Markets
> 2020 sales: $2.57 billion
> 2019 sales: $2.39 billion — the lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 7.6% — 10th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 167 — 13th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Tops Friendly Markets
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49. Brookshire Grocery
> 2020 sales: $2.60 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $2.45 billion — 2nd lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 5.9% — 7th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 175 — 15th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Brookshire Grocery
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48. Bodega Latina Corp./Chedraui
> 2020 sales: $2.92 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $2.66 billion — 4th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.8% — 24th highest in top 50
> Store count: 125 — 8th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): El Super, Fiesta Mart
47. Grocery Outlet
> 2020 sales: $3.13 billion
> 2019 sales: $2.56 billion — 3rd lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 18.2% — 7th highest in top 50
> Store count: 389 — 24th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Grocery Outlet
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46. Schnuck Markets Inc.
> 2020 sales: $3.27 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $3.01 billion — 5th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 8.6% — 17th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 111 — 7th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Schnucks, Shop n’ Save, EatWell
45. Alex Lee Incorporated
> 2020 sales: $3.31 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $3.02 billion — 6th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.8% — 24th highest in top 50
> Store count: 100 — 5th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Lowes Foods, Just$ave, Merchant Distributors, Inc.
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44. Raley’s
> 2020 sales: $4.02 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $3.63 billion — 8th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 10.8% — 20th highest in top 50
> Store count: 126 — 9th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods, Food Source/Sak n Save, Market 5 one 5, O-N-E Market
43. Weis Markets
> 2020 sales: $4.11 billion
> 2019 sales: $3.54 billion — 7th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 16.1% — 10th highest in top 50
> Store count: 198 — 18th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Weis Markets
42. Smart & Final
> 2020 sales: $4.29 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $4.90 billion — 14th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: -12.5% — the lowest in top 50
> Store count: 255 — 22nd lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Smart & Final, Smart & Final Extra!, Smart Foodservice
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41. Ingles Markets
> 2020 sales: $4.61 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $4.20 billion — 9th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.7% — 24th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 197 — 17th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Ingles, Sav-Mor
40. Price Chopper/Market 32
> 2020 sales: $4.65 billion
> 2019 sales: $4.27 billion — 10th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.0% — 18th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 132 — 11th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Price Chopper, Market 32, Market Bistro
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39. Save Mart Supermarkets
> 2020 sales: $5.14 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $4.71 billion — 12th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.1% — 19th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 204 — 19th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx, MaxxValue
38. Stater Bros
> 2020 sales: $5.32 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $4.85 billion — 13th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.7% — 24th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 171 — 14th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Stater Bros. Markets
37. Save-On LP
> 2020 sales: $5.48 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $4.56 billion — 11th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 20.2% — 3rd highest in top 50
> Store count: 177 — 16th lowest in top 50
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36. Save-A-Lot
> 2020 sales: $5.62 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $5.34 billion — 15th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 5.2% — 4th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 1,280 — 17th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Save-a-Lot, Food Giant, Pic N Save, Piggly Wiggly, Market Place, Sureway, IGA, and eight more
35. Demoulas Super Markets Inc.
> 2020 sales: $5.78 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $5.35 billion — 16th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 8.1% — 14th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 85 — 4th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Market Basket
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34. Sprouts Farmers Market
> 2020 sales: $6.47 billion
> 2019 sales: $5.63 billion — 17th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 14.8% — 12th highest in top 50
> Store count: 362 — 25th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Sprouts Farmers Markets
33. WinCo Foods
> 2020 sales: $8.93 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $8.05 billion — 18th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 10.4% — 22nd highest in top 50
> Store count: 129 — 10th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): WinCo Foods, Waremart by WinCo
32. SpartanNash
> 2020 sales: $9.35 billion (includes $2.13 billion in military distribution sales)
> 2019 sales: $8.28 billion — 19th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 12.9% — 16th highest in top 50
> Store count: 154 — 12th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Family Fare Supermarkets, Family Fresh Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Sun Mart
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31. Southeastern Grocers
> 2020 sales: $9.64 billion
> 2019 sales: $8.94 billion — 20th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 7.8% — 11th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 523 — 22nd highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Bi-LO, Harveys, Winn-Dixie, Fresco Y Mas
30. Giant Eagle
> 2020 sales: $10.35 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $9.48 billion — 22nd lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.2% — 20th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 474 — 23rd highest in top 50
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29. Associated Wholesale Grocers
> 2020 sales: $10.63 billion (fiscal year ended Dec. 26, 2020)
> 2019 sales: $9.38 billion — 21st lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 13.4% — 15th highest in top 50
> Store count: 06 — 2nd lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Homeland, United Supermarkets, Cash Saver and Price Chopper
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28. Wegmans
> 2020 sales: $10.68 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $9.73 billion — 23rd lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.8% — 24th highest in top 50
> Store count: 105 — 6th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Wegmans
27. Hy-Vee
> 2020 sales: $12.15 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $10.91 billion — 24th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 11.4% — 18th highest in top 50
> Store count: 265 — 23rd lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Hy-Vee
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26. Metro22
> 2020 sales: $14.26 billion (fiscal year ended Sept. 26, 2020; includes food and pharmacy sales)
> 2019 sales: $13.28 billion — 25th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 7.4% — 9th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 1,601 — 16th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Metro (Plus), Super C, Food Basics, Adonis, Première Moisson, Les 5 Saisons, and seven more
25. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc.
> 2020 sales: $15.10 billion (grocery sales accounted for $11.62 billion of the total)
> 2019 sales: $12.89 billion — 25th lowest in top 50
> Sales change: 17.1% — 9th highest in top 50
> Store count: 221 — 20th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): BJ’s Wholesale Club
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24. Rite Aid
> 2020 sales: $16.36 billion (includes pharmacy sales)
> 2019 sales: $15.62 billion — 23rd highest in top 50
> Sales change: 4.8% — 3rd lowest in top 50
> Store count: 2,510 — 9th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Rite Aid
23. Trader Joe’s
> 2020 sales: $16.50 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $15.27 billion — 24th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 8.1% — 13th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 530 — 21st highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Trader Joe’s
22. Wakefern Food Corporation
> 2020 sales: $18.37 billion (fiscal year ended Oct. 3, 2020)
> 2019 sales: $16.62 billion — 22nd highest in top 50
> Sales change: 10.5% — 21st highest in top 50
> Store count: 363 — 25th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Price Rite Marketplace, ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage, Dearborn Market
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21. Aldi
> 2020 sales: $18.44 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $16.86 billion — 21st highest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.4% — 22nd lowest in top 50
> Store count: 2,070 — 12th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Aldi
20. Meijer
> 2020 sales: $20.95 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $19.06 billion — 19th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.9% — 23rd highest in top 50
> Store count: 253 — 21st lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Meijer, Bridge Street Market, Woodward Corner Market
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19. Dollar Tree
> 2020 sales: $25.51 billion ($15.77 billion in consumables sales)
> 2019 sales: $23.61 billion — 17th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 8.0% — 12th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 15,685 — 2nd highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree Canada
18. United Natural Foods
> 2020 sales: $26.51 billion (fiscal year ended Aug. 1, 2020)
> 2019 sales: $22.31 billion — 18th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 18.9% — 6th highest in top 50
> Store count: 71 — 3rd lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): Cub Foods, Shoppers
17. Sobeys
> 2020 sales: $26.59 billion (fiscal year ended May 2, 2020)
> 2019 sales: $25.14 billion — 16th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 5.8% — 6th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 1,933 — 14th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Sobeys, Farm Boy, Foodland, FreshCo, Price Chopper, Lawtons Drugs
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16. Seven & i Holdings
> 2020 sales: $27.29 billion (Speedway fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2020)
> 2019 sales: $18.52 billion — 20th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 47.4% — the highest in top 50
> Store count: 13,839 — 3rd highest in top 50
> Brand(s): 7-Eleven, Stripes, Aplus, Speedway
15. H-E-B
> 2020 sales: $31.75 billion (IGD estimate; U.S. only)
> 2019 sales: $27.93 billion — 14th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 13.7% — 13th highest in top 50
> Store count: 351 — 24th lowest in top 50
> Brand(s): H-E-B
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14. Loblaw
> 2020 sales: $37.60 billion
> 2019 sales: $33.76 billion — 12th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 11.4% — 18th highest in top 50
> Store count: 2,439 — 10th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Loblaws
13. C & S Wholesale Grocers
> 2020 sales: $33.64 billion (IGD estimate)
> 2019 sales: $31.49 billion — 13th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 6.5% — 8th lowest in top 50
> Store count: Wholesale only
> Brand(s): Wholesale only
12. Dollar General
> 2020 sales: $33.75 billion ($25.91 billion in consumables sales)
> 2019 sales: $27.75 billion — 15th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 19.5% — 5th highest in top 50
> Store count: 17,266 — the highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Dollar General
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11. Couche-Tard
> 2020 sales: $43.36 billion (fiscal year ended April 26, 2020)
> 2019 sales: $37.84 billion — 11th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 13.6% — 14th highest in top 50
> Store count: 9,414 — 5th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Circle K, Corner Store, Couche-Tard, Mac’s, Kangaroo Express, CST, On the Run, Holiday Stationstores
10. Publix Super Markets
> 2020 sales: $44.86 billion
> 2019 sales: $38.12 billion — 10th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 17.7% — 8th highest in top 50
> Store count: 1,269 — 18th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Publix Super Markets, GreenWise Market
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9. Ahold Delhaize USA9
> 2020 sales: $51.84 billion (U.S. only)
> 2019 sales: $44.84 billion — 9th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 15.6% — 11th highest in top 50
> Store count: 1,970 — 13th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Stop & Shop, Food Lion, Giant/Martin’s, Hannaford, Giant Food, Peapod
8. Albertsons
> 2020 sales: $69.69 billion
> 2019 sales: $62.45 billion — 8th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 11.6% — 17th highest in top 50
> Store count: 2,277 — 11th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Pavilions, and six more
7. CVS
> 2020 sales: $91.20 billion
> 2019 sales: $86.61 billion — 6th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 5.3% — 5th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 9,960 — 4th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): CVS
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6. Target
> 2020 sales: $92.40 billion ($42.5 billion in supermarket-related sales)
> 2019 sales: $77.13 billion — 7th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 19.8% — 4th highest in top 50
> Store count: 1,897 — 15th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Target
5. Walgreens Boots Alliance
> 2020 sales: $107.70 billion (U.S. only)
> 2019 sales: $104.53 billion — 5th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 3.0% — 2nd lowest in top 50
> Store count: 9,021 — 6th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Walgreens, Duane Reade
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4. Costco
> 2020 sales: $122.14 billion (fiscal year ended Aug. 30, 2020; $91.6 billion in supermarket-related sales)
> 2019 sales: $111.75 billion — 4th highest in top 50
> Sales change: 9.3% — 21st lowest in top 50
> Store count: 559 — 19th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Costco
3. Kroger
> 2020 sales: $132.50 billion
> 2019 sales: $122.29 billion — 3rd highest in top 50
> Sales change: 8.4% — 15th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 2,742 — 8th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Harris Teeter, Pick N’ Save, Fred Meyer, and 14 more
2. Amazon
> 2020 sales: $236.28 billion (Amazon doesn’t break down sales according to category)
> 2019 sales: $164.74 billion — 2nd highest in top 50
> Sales change: 43.4% — 2nd highest in top 50
> Store count: 539 — 20th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go
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1. Walmart
> 2020 sales: $433.90 billion ($250.6 billion in supermarket-related sales)
> 2019 sales: $399.80 billion — the highest in top 50
> Sales change: 8.5% — 16th lowest in top 50
> Store count: 5,342 — 7th highest in top 50
> Brand(s): Walmart, Sam’s Club
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