Wal-Mart's Urban Excursion
As Wal-Mart Stores makes an urban push, data reveal that it already has a No. 1 market share in six metropolitan markets with populations of 1 million or more. The largest of those is the Dallas-Fort Worth market, where it commands 27.3% of the grocery market, not including Sam's Club, according to Tucson, Ariz.-based Metro Market Studies' 2010 market share guide. Last year the retailer unveiled plans to penetrate Chicago with a variety of formats, and just weeks ago stepped up its campaign to open its first outlets inside New York City. It already has several stores in the suburbs of those cities. Last week the city council of San Diego, where Wal-Mart currently has no supercenters, voted to repeal an ordinance that had been making it difficult for the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer to open there. (All data for Wal-Mart include all Wal-Mart formats except Sam's Club.)
DATA SOURCE: Metro Market Studies 2010 Grocery Distribution Analysis and Guide
1.6%
Wal-Mart's share of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan market
0.5%
Wal-Mart's share of the greater New York City metropolitan market
(No. 1 share; 1-million-plus population)
| MARKET | POPULATION | WAL-MART SHARE | NO. OF STORES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas/Fort Worth | 6.49M | 27.3% | 93 |
| Kansas City, Mo. | 2.03M | 23.8% | 26 |
| Las Vegas | 1.96M | 21.7% | 27 |
| Oklahoma City | 1.22M | 40.4% | 30 |
| Birmingham, Ala. | 1.16M | 42.7% | 27 |
| New Orleans | 1.07M | 33.4% | 14 |
(No. 2 share; 1-million-plus population)
| MARKET | POPULATION | WAL-MART SHARE | NO. 1 CHAIN (SHARE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 6.05M | 21.6% | KROGER (22%) |
| Phoenix | 4.43M | 18.1% | FRY'S (26.7%) |
| St. Louis | 2.86M | 18.6% | SCHNUCKS (28%) |
| Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. | 2.79M | 14.8% | PUBLIX (43.9%) |
| Pittsburgh | 2.34M | 15.6% | GIANT EAGLE (36.1%) |
| Cincinnati | 2.14M | 19.3% | KROGER (41.2%) |
| Orlando, Fla. | 2.13M | 17.9% | PUBLIX (28.4%) |
| San Antonio | 2.12M | 23.9% | H-E-B (53%) |
| Columbus, Ohio | 1.78M | 17.6% | KROGER (37.3%) |
| Indianapolis | 1.76M | 21.9% | KROGER (25%) |
“As we continue to expand in the U.S., we are focused on developing new formats and new approaches that will offer underserved communities fresh and affordable food options where they are needed most.”
BILL SIMON, president and CEO, Walmart U.S.
