The World's Largest Supermarket Chains

 

In the grocery industry, you face fierce competition. That's because big corporations with deep pockets have flooded the market, creating an environment in which spending on sales & marketing is extremely high. The mega-chains massive budgets have enabled them to imprison their suppliers and store open till midnight with dictated prices. Despite its success, the European market for groceries is dominated by three large groups that account for about 80% of a market worth over $600 Billion Euros: Carrefour (France), Ahold NV (Netherlands), and METRO AG (Germany). The sheer size of such corporations gives them a natural monopoly on the market. Clearly, these brands don't do everything by themselves. They rely on third-party suppliers that are responsible for product development and manufacturing, as well as delivery and inventory management.

1. Walmart

Walmart is the world's largest retailer, with more than 11,000 stores in 28 countries. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, when he opened a small store in Rogers, Arkansas. He named it "Wal-Mart" after his father's nickname "Wal." Today, Walmart has about 2 million employees and serves 200 million customers each week.

2. Carrefour

Carrefour is the second largest retailer in the world, with more than 12,000 stores and 421 hypermarkets. The company was founded by André and Eugène Générard in March 1933. They opened their first store in Annecy, France, to sell groceries and clothing. Today, Carrefour employs more than 400,000 people.

3. The Kroger Company

The Kroger Company is a U.S. supermarket chain with over 2,500 stores across 35 states. It was founded by Bernard "Bud" Kroger in 1883 when he opened a bakery in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first Kroger store was built in 1907, and today the company employs more than 325,000 people worldwide.

4. Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco Wholesale is an American membership-only warehouse club that sells products at lower prices than traditional retailers by providing a wide selection and attempting to operate with minimal overhead costs. It was founded in 1976 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman. Today, the company has more than 700 locations worldwide and employs more than 500,000 people. 5. Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated

5. Metro AG

Metro AG is a German multinational retailer and wholesaler, with numerous subsidiaries specializing in different sectors. It was founded in 1964 by Adolf Merckle, who later passed away in 2009. Today the company employs more than 302,000 people worldwide. 6. The Home Depot Incorporated 6. Kroger Company

6. Tesco PLC (Formerly Tesco Plc)

Tesco is a British multinational retailer and one of the world’s largest companies by revenue. It was founded in 1919, and today it employs more than 471,000 people with over 10,000 stores worldwide. 8. H&M

The top 10 grocery chains in the world, ranked by revenue.

1. Walmart: $482.7 billion (2017)

2. Carrefour: $64 billion (2017)

3. Kroger: $56.8 billion (2017)

4. Costco Wholesale: $53 billion (2017)

5. Tesco: $52 billion (2017)

6. Royal Ahold NV: $43 billion (2017)

7. Albertsons Companies Inc.: $36 billion (2017)

8. J Sainsbury Plc.: $30 billion (2017)

9. Aldi Nord: $25 billion (2017)*

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