Grocery sales for 2002 -- encompassing volume from supermarkets, supercenters, warehouse clubs and convenience stores -- totaled $728.7 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce and other sources.
the grocery sales total, based on their total company volumes.
Those shares may slightly overstate certain market shares, however, because several companies do a large portion of sales in non-grocery merchandise -- Wal-Mart Supercenters, Costco, Sam's Clubs, Meijer and BJ's Wholesale Clubs. Even Kroger Co., with its Fred Meyer supercenters and fine jewelry stores, does a larger portion of sales in general merchandise than most other supermarket operators, and a portion of Albertsons' sales come from its freestanding drug stores.
This list excludes Super Target because its sales are included in the totals for its wholesalers Supervalu and Fleming.
The 2001 market share rankings were adjusted to reflect changes in the data compilation methodology.
1. WAL-MART SUPERCENTERS
Annual Sales In Billions: $95.0
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 1/31/03
Market Share: 13.0%
2001 Rank: 1
2. KROGER CO.
Annual Sales In Billions: $52.1
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 2/1/03
Market Share: 7.2%
2001 Rank: 2
3. COSTCO WHOLESALE
Annual Sales In Billions: $38.0
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 9/1/02
Market Share: 5.2%
2001 Rank: 5
4. ALBERTSONS
Annual Sales In Billions: $35.7
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 1/30/03
Market Share: 4.9%
2001 Rank: 3
5. SAFEWAY
Annual Sales In Billions: $35.0
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 12/28/02
Market Share: 4.8%
2001 Rank: 4
6. SAM'S CLUBS
Annual Sales In Billions: $31.7
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 1/31/03
Market Share: 4.4%
2001 Rank: 6
7. AHOLD RETAIL USA
Annual Sales In Billions: $25.1
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 12/31/02
Market Share: 3.4%
2001 Rank: 7
8. SUPERVALU
Annual Sales In Billions: $19.5
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 2/22/03
Market Share: 2.7%
2001 Rank: 8
9. PUBLIX
Annual Sales In Billions: $15.8
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 12/28/02
Market Share: 2.2%
2001 Rank: 11
10. FLEMING
Annual Sales In Billions: $15.5
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 12/28/02
Market Share: 2.1%
2001 Rank: 9
11. DELHAIZE AMERICA
Annual Sales In Billions: $15.1
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 12/28/02
Market Share: 2.1%
2001 Rank: 10
12. WINN-DIXIE
Annual Sales In Billions: $12.2
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 6/25/03
Market Share: 1.7%
2001 Rank: 12
13. MEIJER
Annual Sales In Billions: $10.9
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 2/1/03
Market Share: 1.5%
2001 Rank: 13
14. H.E. BUTT GROCERY CO.
Annual Sales In Billions: $9.8
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 10/27/02
Market Share: 1.3%
2001 Rank: 14
15. C&S WHOLESALE GROCERS
Annual Sales In Billions: $9.7
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 9/28/02
Market Share: 1.3%
2001 Rank: 16
16. 7-ELEVEN (U.S. ONLY)
Annual Sales In Billions: $9.1
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 12/31/02
Market Share: 1.2%
2001 Rank: 17
17. A&P (U.S. ONLY)
Annual Sales In Billions: $8.3
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 2/22/03
Market Share: 1.1%
2001 Rank: 15
18. WAKEFERN
Annual Sales In Billions: $6.2
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 9/28/02
Market Share: 0.8%
2001 Rank: 18
19. BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB
Annual Sales In Billions: $5.8
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 1/31/03
Market Share: 0.8%
2001 Rank: 21
20. SHAW'S SUPERMARKETS
Annual Sales In Billions: $4.5
Date Fiscal Year Ends: 3/1/03
Market Share: 0.6%
2001 Rank: 20
Total U.S. food-sales volume reached $729 billion in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce and other sources.