Top 10 Largest Grocery Store Chains In America

The top 10 largest grocery store chains in America are a mix of large public and private companies serving millions of people through their well-positioned stores across the country. The global grocery market has continuously evolved, from simple brick and mortar stores a few decades ago, to large supermarket and boutique chains today. Trends have changed in the food retail business and major stores today have even gone online, with different models like ‘order online, pick up in store’ and ‘home delivery’ having become quite popular.

Large e-commerce players like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) have also entered the food business with a bang. AmazonFresh has rolled out one-hour delivery in 10 cities in the UK and Europe, while Amazon Go utilizes the world’s most advanced shopping technology to allows customers to grab and go. That has forced grocery stores in America to evolve as well, in order to keep pace with the changing trends.

Customers today have become increasingly diverse, in terms of income levels and purchasing patterns. For many, cooking has become an experience, more so than a daily routine. As such, there has been an increased demand for meal kits. There is also increasing awareness about healthy eating habits and organic food. Hence the top 10 largest grocery store chains in America have a lot more to offer to their customers today than they did years ago.

Though technologies are advancing and trends are changing fast, you might still prefer to go out for Sunday shopping with the family. The U.S houses many of the world’s largest grocery store chains and most of them also have an online presence. The list of the top 10 largest grocery store chains in America has been inspired from various sources, including Wikipedia, Forbes, thebalance.com and thedailymeal.com. The list consists of well-known grocery stores across America and is ranked based on the number of stores that they operate. Check it out beginning on the next page. And for further grocery-related reading, check out our list of the 11 largest grocery chains by revenue in America.

10. H.E Butt Grocery Company

350+ stores

H.E Butt Grocery Company, founded in 1905 and owned by the Butt family, is the #1 food retailer in South and Central Texas. The company owns more than 350 supermarkets including many gourmet Central Market stores and H-E-B-Pantry stores throughout Texas and Mexico. According to Forbes, H.E Butt Grocery Company employed over 80,000 people and reported 2016 revenue of $23 billion.

9. Trader Joe’s

460+ stores

Trader Joe’s is a specialty grocery store chain known for innovative, hard-to-find, and great-tasting foods. The company offers many gluten-free, kosher and vegan products to its customers through its more than 460 stores located in 40 states, many of which are in Southern California. The chain’s stores are stacked with over 4,000 different products offered at affordable prices.

8. Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ:WFM)

462 stores

Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ:WFM) operates 462 stores in the U.S, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It offers over 30,000 organic stock keeping units (SKUs), covering various areas such as packaged goods, bulk, frozen, dairy, meat, and bakery. Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ:WFM) owns and runs organic food supermarkets and currently has a market value in excess of $20 billion. The company has come a long way, starting from just one store in Austin, Texas to become the world’s leader in natural and organic foods.

7. Southeastern Grocers LLC

750+ stores

Headquartered in Florida, Southeastern Grocers is a private grocery store chain operating throughout the southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The company sells baked goods, dairy, frozen food, and other grocery products, in addition to pharmaceuticals and liquor through its 756 grocers, 145 liquor stores, and 504 in-store pharmacies.

6. Publix Super Markets Inc. (OTCMKTS:PUSH)

1,100 stores

With 1,100 stores in the U.S, Publix Super Markets Inc. (OTCMKTS:PUSH) ranks sixth on our list of the top 10 largest grocery store chains in America. According to Forbes, Publix Super Markets Inc. (OTCMKTS:PUSH) employed over 180,000 people and reported revenue of $32 billion for the 2016 year. The company operates retail food supermarkets in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

5. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)

1,800+ stores

Founded in 1946, Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves the people of America through 1,806 stores. Though Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is the second-largest discount store retailer in the U.S, the company also sells fresh food, frozen food, meal solutions, dairy products and beverages, among many more food items. It has more than 800 vendor facilities that produce Target-brand foods such as Archer Farms, Market Pantry and Simply Balanced.

4. Supervalu Inc. (NYSE:SVU)

2,000+ stores

Supervalu Inc. (NYSE:SVU) is a leading grocery chain in America, serving millions of families through more than 2,000 locations across the country. Supervalu Inc. (NYSE:SVU) provides wholesale, retail and professional services and operates under five retail banners (Cub foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbachers, Shop ‘n Save, and Shoppers) in seven states and the District of Columbia.

3. Albertsons Companies

2,300+ stores

We are continuing our list of top 10 largest grocery store chains in America with Albertsons Companies that is one of the largest food retailers in the U.S, operating more than 2,300 stores under its 19 well-known banners including Safeway Inc. Other brands include Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw’s, Amigos, and Tom Thumb. Albertsons Companies has a strong local presence across 35 states and the District of Columbia. It is the second-largest supermarket chain in the U.S behind Kroger Co, and ranked third on Forbes’ 2016 list of America’s top 25 private companies.

2. The Kroger Company (NYSE:KR)

2,460 stores

The Kroger Company (NYSE:KR) operates 2,796 stores (not all of which are grocery stores) in 35 states under a range of local banner names like Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Smith’s, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Fry’s, Dillons, and City Market. Other than grocery stores, the company runs a number of multi-department stores, convenience stores and jewelry stores. It also operates 38 food manufacturing facilities producing high-quality products. The Kroger Company (NYSE:KR) is one of the world’s largest food retailers, with fiscal 2016 sales of $115 billion.

1. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

5,000+ stores

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) ranks #1 on our list of the top 10 largest grocery store chains in America. Starting with just one store in 1962, the company has today expanded to reach more than 5,000 stores and clubs globally, though the U.S is the largest market for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT). It launched Walmart Grocery for food pickup and delivery and offers huge discounts on groceries, as well as allowing one to shop online, without any monthly or annual subscription fees for the service.

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