TOP 75 NORTH AMERICAN FOOD RETAILERS

This year's new arrivals include Bi-Lo/Bruno's, which Ahold USA sold in January 2005; Kum & Go; and Affiliated Foods of Amarillo, Texas. Gone are Alimentation Couche-Tard,

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RANK COMPANY: TOP EXECUTIVE; STORES OWNED; DATE FISCAL YEAR ENDS

1) Wal-Mart Stores; H. Lee Scott Jr.; 3,808; 317.3 e 1/31/06

Bentonville, Ark.president, CEO

Wal-Mart's 1,929 supercenters account for approximately $156.7 billion, or 49% of the company's total sales; 1,224 discount stores account for approximately 17% of sales ($52.4 billion); 558 Sam's Clubs in the U.S. account for approximately 13% of sales ($42.7 billion, including membership fees); 97 Neighborhood Markets account for approximately 1% of sales ($2.1 billion); and international sales account for approximately 20% ($63.5 billion). Store count does not include 2,276 international locations.

2) Kroger Co.: David B. Dillon; 4,296; 59.9 e 1/28/06

Cincinnati chairman, CEO

Kroger sales encompass 2,515 supermarkets and multi-department stores, 791 convenience stores, 559 fuel centers and 431 fine jewelry stores.

3) Costco Wholesale Corp.: Jim Sinegal; 433; 51.9 a 8/28/05

Issaquah, Wash. president, CEO

Groceries - encompassing food, sundries and fresh products - account for 60% of Costco's total sales, or $31.1 billion. Of the company's total sales, 81% come from the U.S., 13% from Canada and 6% from overseas.

4) Albertsons: Larry Johnston: 2,674; 41.3 e 2/2/06

Boise, Idaho chairman, president, CEO

Albertsons stores encompass 1,743 supermarkets, 695 freestanding drug stores and 236 fuel centers. Of the supermarkets, 13 Bristol Farms stores in Southern California and 27 Super Saver stores in Texas, Louisiana, Utah and Florida are owned and operated by independently managed and operated subsidiaries of Albertsons.

5) Safeway: Steve Burd; 1,802; 38.6 e 12/31/05

Pleasanton, Calif.chairman, president, CEO

6) Loblaw Cos.: John Lederer; 1,058; 24.0 e ($U.S.) 12/31/05

Toronto president

Loblaw operates 658 corporate stores and supplies 400 franchised stores.

7) Ahold USA Retail: Anders Moberg; 1,048; 22.6 a 1/1/06

Quincy, Mass. president, CEO (Royal Ahold)

Ahold USA Retail, the U.S. division of Amsterdam-based Ahold, encompasses 1,048 stores, including 365 Stop & Shops, 191 Giant Foods of Landover, Md., 133 Tops Markets and 123 Giant Foods of Carlisle, Pa., plus 236 gas stations. Retail sales of $22.6 billion represents approximately 55% of the U.S. total of $41 billion for 2005, with the balance coming from U.S. Foodservice. Ahold USA accounts for approximately 76% of the parent company's total sales of $53.6 billion for 2005.

8) Publix Super Markets: Charles Jenkins Jr.; 87520.1 e 12/31/05

Lakeland, Fla. CEO

9) Supervalu: Jeff Noddle; 1,553; 19.9 e 2/25/06

Minneapolischairman, CEO

Sales from 661 corporate stores, encompassing 237 supermarkets and 424 Save-A-Lots, account for 54% of annual revenues. The company also franchises 861 Save-A-Lots and 31 Cub Foods stores.

10) Delhaize America: Pierre Olivier-Beckers; 1,542; 16.5 e 12/31/05

Salisbury, N.C. CEO

Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group, encompasses 1,223 Food Lion stores, 145 Hannaford Bros. stores, 107 Kash 'n Karry and Sweetbay stores and 67 Harvey's stores. Delhaize America accounts for approximately 67% of Delhaize Group's sales.

11) C&S Wholesale Grocers: Rick Cohen; 0; 15.2 e 9/24/05

Keene, N.H. chairman, CEO

C&S supplies products to nine Top 75 retailers (A&P, Ahold USA, BJ's, Big Y, Demoulas Market Basket, Pathmark, Safeway, Save Mart and Shaw's), and volume from those companies is reflected in the sales totals for C&S and for each of the retailers individually. C&S volume does not include retail sales from two C&S affiliates: GU Markets, which operates 30 former Grand Union locations, and Southern Family Markets, which encompasses 83 stores formerly operated by the Bruno's/Bi-Lo division of Ahold USA.

12) 7-Eleven: Joe DePinto; 5,799; 13.1 e 12/31/05

Dallas president, CEO

Merchandise at 7-Eleven accounts for 65% of total sales and gasoline accounts for the other 35%. Excluding tobacco products, which account for approximately 29% of merchandise volume, sales from dairy, fresh foods, candy and snacks, beer and wine, beverages, food service and nonfoods account for 67.4% of the merchandise total. 7-Eleven operates 5,311 stores in the U.S. and 488 in Canada. All stores in Canada and 36% of those in the U.S. are corporate-owned, with the rest of the U.S. stores franchised. U.S. sales account for approximately 92% of the company's total sales.

13) Meijer Inc.: Hank Meijer and Paul Boyer; 171; 12.5 e 1/28/06

Grand Rapids, Mich. co-CEO

14) H.E. Butt Grocery Co.: Charles C. Butt; 304; 11.6 e 10/31/05

San Antonio chairman, CEO

Store total includes 22 units in Mexico, which account for approximately 6% of sales.

15) Sobeys: Bill McEwan; 1,314; 11.1 e ($U.S.) 5/6/06

Stellarton, Nova Scotiapresident, CEO

Sobeys operates 513 corporate stores (encompassing 307 supermarkets, 146 convenience stores and 60 drug stores) and supplies 801 franchised stores.

16) Wakefern Food Corp.: Joseph S. Colalillo; 49; 9.10 a 10/1/05

Elizabeth, N.J. chairman, CEO

Wakefern supplies products to three Top 75 companies - Foodarama, Village Super Markets and Inserra Supermarkets - and volume from those companies is reflected in the sales totals for Wakefern. Wakefern declined to indicate what percentage of total sales come from its corporate stores (27 ShopRites and 22 PriceRites).

17) Winn-Dixie Stores: Peter Lynch; 587; 8.50 e 6/27/06

Jacksonville, Fla. president, CEO

Winn-Dixie has been operating under Chapter 11 since February 2005. Since then, it has closed or sold 326 stores.

18) Dollar General Corp.: David Perdue; 7,821; 8.20 e 2/3/06

Goodlettsville, Tenn. chairman, CEO

Consumables - including groceries, fresh and refrigerated foods, and HBC products - account for approximately 65% of total sales. Store base includes approximately 40 Dollar General Markets that feature perishables, which are not offered at Dollar General Stores.

19) BJ's Wholesale Club: Michael T. Wedge; 161; 8.00 e 1/28/06

Natick, Mass. president, CEO

Groceries, encompassing food and sundries, account for approximately 72.5% of BJ's total sales.

20) Metro: Pierre Lessard; 746; 5.90 a ($U.S.) 9/24/05

Montreal president, CEO

Metro operates 356 corporate stores - including 234 A&P stores acquired in August 2005 - that account for 70% of total sales, and supplies 390 franchised stores, including 173 drug stores, in addition to independent customers.

21) A&P: Eric Claus; 427; 5.80 e 2/25/06

Montvale, N.J.president, CEO

22) Giant Eagle: David Shapira; 216; 5.40 e 6/30/06

Pittsburghchairman, president, CEO

Volume encompasses sales from 138 corporate stores and sales to 78 franchised independent stores.

23) Aldi: Charles Youngstrom; 795; 5.00 e 12/31/05

Batavia, Ill. president

Aldi is the U.S. subsidiary of Aldi Group, Essen, Germany.

24) Associated Wholesale Grocers: Gary Phillips; 75; 5.00 e 12/31/05

Kansas City, Kan. president, CEO

Corporate stores at Associated Wholesale Grocers account for 10.5% of total sales.

25) Hy-Vee Food Stores: Ric Jurgens; 221; 4.95 a 10/2/05

West Des Moines, Iowapresident, CEO

Hy-Vee operates 195 supermarkets and 26 drug stores.

26) Whole Foods Market: John Mackey; 175; 4.70 a 9/25/05

Austin, Texas chairman, CEO

27) Nash Finch Co.: Ron Marshall; 80; 4.70 e 12/31/05

Minneapolis CEO

Ron Marshall has announced plans to step down as CEO in March 2006. Corporate stores at Nash Finch account for 16% of total sales.

28) Trader Joe's Co.: Dan Bane; 250; 4.50 a 6/25/05

Monrovia, Calif. chairman, CEO

Trader Joe's is wholly owned by the Albrecht family of Germany.

29) Wawa Inc.: Howard Stoeckel; 547; 4.30 e 12/25/05

Wawa, Pa. CEO

Merchandise and services account for an estimated 50% of Wawa's sales.

30) Pathmark Stores: John Standley; 143; 4.05 e 1/28/06

Carteret, N.J. CEO

31) Bi-Lo/Bruno's: Dean Cohagan; 342; 4.00 e 12/31/05

Greenville, S.C. president, CEO

The stores operated by Bi-Lo/Bruno's were part of Ahold USA until January 2005, when they were sold to Lone Star Funds, Dallas, which retained all but 109 units, which were sold to an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers.

32) Wegmans Food Markets: Danny Wegman; 69; 3.80 e 12/31/05

Rochester, N.Y. CEO

33) Roundy's Supermarkets: Robert A. Mariano; 135; 3.60 e 12/31/05

Milwaukee chairman, CEO

Corporate stores at Roundy's Supermarkets account for 90% of total sales.

34) Stater Bros. Markets: Jack Brown; 162; 3.40 a 9/25/05

Colton, Calif. chairman, CEO

35) Raley's Supermarkets: William Coyne; 137; 3.30 e 6/24/06

Sacramento, Calif. president, CEO

36) Unified Western Grocers: Al Plamann; 0; 2.90 a 10/1/05

Los Angeles president, CEO

37) Price Chopper: Neil Golub; 115; 2.90 e 4/30/06

Schenectady, N.Y.president, CEO

38) Houchens Industries: Jimmy Gipson; 367; 2.70 e 10/1/05

Bowling Green, Ky. chairman, president, CEO

Houchens operates 146 supermarkets under several banners (Houchens, Food Giant, IGA, IGA Crossroads, Piggly Wiggly and Mad Butcher) and 221 Save-A-Lot units; the company declined to indicate what percentage of total sales the corporate stores account for. Houchens also operates 42 convenience stores and is involved in several other businesses, including warehousing, construction, recycling, insurance and tobacco.

39) Overwaitea Food Group: Steve van der Leest; 106; 2.70 e ($U.S.) 12/31/05

Langley, British Columbiapresident

40) Harris Teeter: Fred Morganthall; 145; 2.60 a 10/2/05

Matthews, N.C.president

41) Save Mart Supermarkets: Robert M. Piccinini; 125; 2.50 e 12/25/05

Modesto, Calif. chairman, CEO

42) Alex Lee Inc.: Boyd George; 107; 2.50 a 10/1/05

Hickory, N.C.chairman, CEO

Sales at Alex Lee Inc. include $1.2 billion from Lowes Food Stores, Winston-Salem, N.C.; $1.6 billion from Merchants Distributors Inc., Hickory, N.C., a wholesaler (approximately 46% of whose sales go to Lowes); and $476 million from Institution Food House, Hickory, N.C., a food-service distributor.

43) WinCo Foods: William D. Long; 50; 2.50 e 4/1/06

Boise, Idahochairman, CEO

44) United Natural Foods: Michael F. Funk; 12; 2.30 e 7/29/06

Dayville, Conn. president, CEO

Corporate stores account for 2% of United Natural's total sales.

45) Ingles Markets: Robert P. Ingle 2nd; 197; 2.30 a 9/24/05

Black Mountain, N.C. chairman, CEO

46) Weis Markets: Rich Norman; 158; 2.20 e 12/28/05

Sunbury, Pa. president, CEO

47) Schnuck Markets: Craig Schnuck; 102; 2.20 e 9/24/05

St. Louis chairman, CEO

48) Spartan Stores: Craig Sturken; 73; 2.10 e 3/25/06

Grand Rapids, Mich. chairman, president, CEO

Corporate stores, encompassing 54 supermarkets and 19 deep-discount drug stores, account for 43% of total sales. The pending acquisition of 20 D&W Food Centers could add another $200 million to Spartan's total sales.

49) Smart & Final: Etienne P. Snollaerts; 250; 2.10 e 12/31/05

Los Angeles president, CEO

Smart & Final operates 199 warehouse stores and 51 cash-and-carry stores.

50) Demoulas Market Basket: William J. Shea; 59; 2.10 e 12/31/05

Tewksbury, Mass. chairman

51) Brookshire Grocery Co.: Bruce Brookshire; 161; 2.00 e 9/30/05

Tyler, Texas chairman

52) Bashas': Eddie N. Basha Jr.: 154; 2.00 e 12/31/05

Chandler, Ariz. chairman, CEO

53) Grocers Supply Co.: Max Levit; 52; 1.90 e 12/31/05

Houston president, CEO

Grocers Supply Co. declined to pinpoint what percentage of total sales its corporate stores account for.

54) Marsh Supermarkets: Don E. Marsh; 279; 1.80 e 4/1/06

Indianapolis chairman, CEO

Marsh operates 112 supermarkets and 167 convenience stores. It also operates food-service and catering companies and a floral business.

55) Associated Food Stores: Rich Parkinson; 23; 1.50 e 3/25/06

Salt Lake City president, CEO

Corporate stores at Associated Food Stores account for 32% of total sales.

56) Penn Traffic Co.: Robert Chapman; 108; 1.40 e 1/28/06

Syracuse, N.Y. president, CEO

Penn Traffic also serves as a wholesaler to 78 licensed franchisees and 40 independent operators.

57) K-VA-T Food Stores: Steve Smith; 93; 1.40 e 12/31/05

Abingdon, Va. president, CEO

58) Kum & Go: Kyle Krause; 430; 1.40 e 12/31/05

West Des Moines, Iowa president, CEO

Consumables account for approximately 50% of Kum & Go's sales.

59) Foodarama: Richard Saker; 26; 1.20 e 10/29/05

Freehold, N.J. president, CEO

60) Wild Oats Markets: Perry Odak; 113; 1.20 e 12/31/05

Boulder, Colo. president, CEO

61) Purity Wholesale Grocers: Sal Ricciardi; 0; 1.20 e 6/30/06

Boca Raton, Fla. president, CEO

62) Big Y Foods: Donald D'Amour; 54; 1.20 a 7/3/05

Springfield, Mass. chairman, CEO

Big Y operates 52 conventional supermarkets and two fine-wine, liquor and gourmet food stores under the banners Table & Vine and Town & Country.

63) White Rose Foods: Stephen Bokser; 0; 1.20 e 12/31/05

Carteret, N.J. president, CEO

White Rose is a division of DiGiorgio Corp.

64) Associated Wholesalers Inc.: J. Chris Michael; 8; 1.20 e 7/31/06

Robesonia, Pa. president, CEO

Corporate stores at AWI account for 7% of total sales.

65) Affiliated Foods: George Lankford; 0; 1.13 a 10/1/05

Amarillo, Texas president, CEO

66) United Supermarkets: Gannt and Matt Bumstead; 47; 1.10 e 1/28/06

Lubbock, Texas co-presidents

67) Bozzuto's: Michael Bozzuto; 8; 1.10 a 9/24/05

Cheshire, Conn. chairman, president

Corporate stores at Bozzuto's account for 1.5% of total sales.

68) Central Grocers Inc.: Joe Caccamo; 28; 1.10 a 7/31/05

Franklin Park, Ill. EVP, general manager

Corporate stores account for approximately 47% of total sales.

69) Associated Grocers: John Runyan; 2; 1.05 a 9/30/05

Seattle president, CEO

70) Affiliated Foods Midwest: Martin Arter; 0; 1.05 e 6/24/06

Norfolk, Neb. president

71) Village Super Market: James Sumas; 23; 1.00 e 7/29/06

Springfield, N.J. chairman

72) Inserra Supermarkets: Lawrence R. Inserra Jr.; 22; 1.00 e 12/31/05

Springfield, N.J. chairman, CEO

73) Brookshire Bros.: Jack Gabriel, Donny and Jerry Johnson; 72; 0.950 e 4/29/06

Lufkin, Texas executive committee

74) Minyard Food Stores:Ron Johnson; 68; 0.875 e 6/30/06

Coppell, Texas president, CEO

75) Haggen Inc.: Dale C. Henley; 33; 0.852 e 12/31/05

Bellingham, Wash. president, CEO

Haggen operates 32 supermarkets and one freestanding pharmacy.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: IGA, the Chicago-based voluntary network of independent operators, accounted for 2005 sales of approximately $19.1 billion, of which $6 billion came from IGA stores in the U.S., $3.1 billion from IGA stores in Canada and $10 billion from IGA stores in 37 countries overseas. IGA members are supplied by 13 licensed wholesalers in the U.S., two in Canada and 37 overseas, and four store groups in China are self-distributing. Piggly Wiggly LLC is a Dallas-based umbrella organization for approximately 600 licensed and franchised independent operators in 16 states across the mid-South, Illinois and Wisconsin with a combined 2005 volume of approximately $3.5 billion. Piggly Wiggly stores are supplied by a variety of wholesalers. The company is an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers, Keene, N.H.