T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Kroger Company - Statistics & Facts
Being the leading supermarket in the United States, The Kroger Company has kept a considerable distance from the runner-up, Albertsons Companies, with almost double the sales. Founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a single grocery store, it has come a long way since then and now operates a diverse range of retail establishments, encompassing supermarkets, fuel centers, pharmacies, and convenience stores. The company has demonstrated growth across all categories, attesting to its success in these segments. Although Kroger has evolved into the world's second-largest hypermarket chain, it has yet to expand overseas, with 100 percent of its revenue originating from its operations in its home country.
Company figures and sales
With a presence in 36 states across the United States, Kroger has established more than 2,700 locations, encompassing a variety of chains such as Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, and Kwik Shop, among others. Over the past few years, Kroger has experienced robust growth, with total sales exceeding 148 billion dollars in 2022, representing an increase of nearly eight percent from the previous year. The majority of its revenue was generated by its supermarkets, and projections suggest that Kroger will continue to lead the market in 2026. The non-perishable and perishable categories were the most lucrative, contributing roughly 74 billion and 35 billion dollars, respectively, followed by fuel sales which approached 19 billion in 2022 but exhibited more volatility than the other categories. Kroger’s e-commerce division has demonstrated strong growth and is poised to become a significant source of revenue in the future.U.S. supermarket retail landscape
The retail landscape for supermarkets and hypermarkets in the United States is multifaceted, featuring numerous globally recognized players. Sales for 2022 indicated that Walmart was the leading food and grocery retailer by a significant margin, while Kroger ranked fourth, with sales less than half of the market leader's and behind competitors such as Amazon and Costco. Kroger’s diverse portfolio has placed it in competition not only with similar supermarkets but also with major retailers that cover fuel and other types of store sales. The Kroger brand represented the company's primary retail business, generating the most substantial sales, but the Group also operated several other retail banners, including Fred Meyer, Fry's Food & Drug, and Smith's.
