Leading supermarkets in the U.S. 2023, based on retail sales

Kroger was the leading supermarket in the United States in 2023, 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 one of the largest overall retailers, behind the retailing giant, Walmart.

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 2024, nearly a quarter of U.S. consumers shopped at Kroger on a regular basis and with 2,855 U.S. stores in 2023 the company ranked second in the list of supermarkets with most locations in the country, surpassed only by Aldi.

Varied businesses

Another aspect that may contribute to Kroger’s success is the fact that it is more than just a grocery store. In 2023, the company had revenues of over 14 billion dollars from filling prescriptions in its pharmacies. Some of Kroger’s locations also include fuel stations. Revenue from its fuel segment exceeded 16.6 billion dollars in the same year.