T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Get in touch with us nowLeading supermarkets in the U.S. 2021, based on retail sales
Kroger was the leading supermarket in the United States in 2021, by a wide margin. It had nearly double the retail sales of the next chain, Albertsons. Founded in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio (where it is still headquartered), by Bernard Kroger, The Kroger Co. has become the largest supermarket chain in the United States and the second largest overall retailer, only behind the retailing giant, Walmart.
It’s hard to pin down one aspect that explains Kroger’s revenue lead over its competitors, but surely reach is one such aspect. In 2018, nearly a third of U.S. consumers shopped at Kroger on a regular basis and the company had by far the most locations of any supermarket in the country.
Another aspect that may contribute to Kroger’s success is the fact that it is more than just a grocery store. In 2021, the company had revenues of over 12 billion dollars from filling prescriptions in its pharmacies. Some of Kroger’s locations also include fuel stations. Revenue from its fuel segment exceeded 14.6 billion dollars in the same year.
Far-reaching impact
It’s hard to pin down one aspect that explains Kroger’s revenue lead over its competitors, but surely reach is one such aspect. In 2018, nearly a third of U.S. consumers shopped at Kroger on a regular basis and the company had by far the most locations of any supermarket in the country.
Varied businesses
Another aspect that may contribute to Kroger’s success is the fact that it is more than just a grocery store. In 2021, the company had revenues of over 12 billion dollars from filling prescriptions in its pharmacies. Some of Kroger’s locations also include fuel stations. Revenue from its fuel segment exceeded 14.6 billion dollars in the same year.
