Grocery Stores & Supermarkets Industry Profile

Companies in this industry primarily retail a general line of food such as canned and frozen foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as prepared meats, fish, and poultry. Major companies in the industry include Costco, Kroger, Target, and Walmart (all based in the US), as well as foreign companies such as Aeon (Japan); Aldi, Kaufland, and Lidl (all based in Germany); Carrefour (France); and Tesco (the UK).

The global grocery retail market is projected to increase 24% between 2019 and 2024, from $6.7 trillion to $8.3 trillion, according to research firm IDG. The global landscape is dominated by US and European firms, although Australia also boasts major chains. Unlike other industries, grocery retail is still largely led by local players in most countries. The top 15 retailers account for more than 30% of world supermarket sales. In the US, sales by the 20 largest food retailers accounted for two-thirds of grocery store sales in 2016, according to the USDA. Asia is projected to account for nearly 50% of all new global grocery retail sales generated between 2019 and 2024.

Companies in this industry operate retail stores that offer a general selection of food products. Discount stores and warehouse clubs, which are leading sellers of groceries, are covered in separate industry profiles.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Consumer migration online has grocers racing to increase their online presence, while online players -- including Amazon and China's ...