Walmart’s share of grocery spending keeps growing

Walmart’s grocery market share keeps growing and growing.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail Goliath now takes in 25.2% of all grocery dollars, up about 1.5 percentage points since 2021.

That’s according to new data released this week by consumer research firm Numerator, which tracked purchase data and surveyed buyers to understand shifts in behavior. Kroger came in at No. 2, with 10.7% dollar share, though its share has shrunk as Walmart’s has increased. Also among the top five retailers are Costco, followed by Albertsons and Sam’s Club.

Of the Top 10 food retailers by dollar share, none has seen as steep a drop since 2021 as Kroger.

The Numerator research confirms statements made by Walmart executives, who’ve noted the retailer’s growing slice of overall grocery spending.

“We continue to gain market share in the grocery category, including with higher income and younger shoppers,” CEO Douglas McMillon told analysts in May. “Our growth is now being driven by convenience in addition to price.”

A robust omnichannel offering has helped boost Walmart’s sales and traffic in recent years, the retail giant said.

“We’re growing mind share for our convenience, which nearly matches our mind share for price,” CFO John David Rainey said during the May call.

For the quarter ended April 28, Walmart’s grocery sales rose in the low-double digits, outpacing overall same-store sales growth of 7.4%.

Walmart is scheduled to report its second-quarter earnings on Aug. 17.