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Walmart still holds the throne as the nation’s leading grocer, but competitors are storming the kingdom’s aisles. After Kroger, Aldi was recently crowned the nation’s third-largest grocer by store count, according to data from the commercial real estate firm JLL.
The German company was the fastest-growing grocery chain in the US last year, based on both the number of new stores opened and the square footage of those 88 locations. The stores take up over 2.2 million square feet of space. Meanwhile, new Publix locations in 2021 accounted for a mere 1.3 million square feet.
- Lidl, another German grocer, has been leaning into its own US expansion.
Sizing up: Aldi stepped up its US expansion plans back in 2017, and the grocery chain is seeing the fruits of its labor. That year, Aldi announced a $5 billion, five-year strategy in which it would invest $3.4 billion to grow from 1,700 to 2,500 stores across the nation by the end of 2022. It’s well on its way to achieving that goal: As of late March, Aldi counts 2,160 US locations.
- In February, Aldi announced plans to open about 150 stores in the US this year.
Opportunity on aisle one: Following the pandemic-era grocery boom, grocery stores saw a 200% surge in new leases in 2021 compared to 2019, per Datex and JLL. Grocers are also investing in store renovations, in addition to new spaces. Seems as though Aldi was ahead of the curve with its $1.6 billion store-refresh project circa 2017.—JG
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While the retailer was able to open and remodel 139 locations last year, it will open more than 120 stores this year — more new openings than any other grocer in the country. ALDI is now the third-largest grocer in the United States by store count, with a current total of 2,400-plus stores.
What is the third largest grocery store in the US? ›
What are the largest grocery chains in the United States in 2024?
Rank | | States Present In |
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#1 | Walmart | 52 |
#2 | Albertsons Companies | 35 |
#3 | Kroger | 16 |
#4 | Food Lion | 10 |
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Is Aldi the biggest grocery chain in the world? ›
Cumulatively, the top 10 food & grocery retailers generated retail sales of $1,124,947 million, where the highest retail sales were generated by Walmart Inc ($317,713 million), followed by Schwarz Unternehmenskommunikation GmbH & Co KG ($135945 million), and Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co oHG ($113,203) while the lowest retail ...
What is Aldi's US ranking? ›
dunnhumby released its 2021 Retailer Preference Index Report, and ALDI continued to hold the No. 1 ranking for price. Retailers are evaluated on seven pillars, and ALDI ranked No. 5 overall, up two spots from last year.
Why is Aldi the fastest growing grocer in the US? ›
Aldi says it keeps prices low through its cost-limiting business model, which relies on selling lots of store-brand goods and asking employees to hop between ringing up customers and organizing stockrooms. It's a pitch that has attracted many consumers as food prices have risen over the last few years.
What is the largest grocery chain in the U.S. by store count? ›
The Biggest Grocery Stores and Supermarkets Based on Sales Data
Rank | Company | Locations |
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1 | Walmart | 5,342 |
2 | Amazon | 539 |
3 | Kroger | 2,742 |
4 | Costco | 559 |
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What is the largest single grocery store in the United States? ›
Jungle Jim's International Market
Current logo |
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Industry | Grocery store |
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Area served | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Website | junglejims.com |
Footnotes / references |
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Does Aldi own Trader Joe's? ›
Aldi Nord purchased Trader Joe's in 1979 from founder Joe Coulombe. Coulombe founded Trader Joe's in 1967 in Pasadena, Calif. Coulombe was the one who helped define Trader Joe's aesthetic and offerings over the next two decades. Coulombe stayed with the company after Aldi Nord bought it until 1988.
Who is the #1 grocer in the US? ›
Walmart is the largest supermarket chain in the United States, and indeed the world, with a global turnover of $611.3 billion (€556.45 billion) in the year to end 31 January 2023, of which 69% was generated in its Walmart US business*, resulting in a total US turnover of $421.8 billion (€388.4 billion).
What country is Aldi owned by? ›
Owned by a German company called Albrecht Discounts, ALDI is a discount grocery chain that started in Germany in 1948. Decidedly no frills, the company stocks virtually all house-brand products, all offered at very low prices thanks to exclusive deals with their suppliers, many of which are big-name producers.
We offer groceries to fit everyone's specific dietary interests, needs or concerns. From organic certified gluten-free products and our meat products that contain no antibiotics, added hormones or animal byproducts, we can fit everyone's lifestyle.
Where does most of Aldi's food come from? ›
When it comes to meat and produce, it's likely that Aldi is sourcing from local farmers in your area. According to Aldi's website, it "teams up with top growers throughout the U.S., including local growers." When it comes to local produce, it's one of the ways the grocery chain saves money.
What is Aldi famous for? ›
Aldi stores are noted as examples of so-called no-frills stores that often display a variety of items at discount prices, specializing in staple items, such as food, beverages, toilet paper, sanitary articles, and other inexpensive household items.
What is Aldi's aisle of shame? ›
Aldi shoppers may beeline for Mama Cozzi's pizzas, but they can't miss the notorious “Aisle of Shame.” Located in the center of the store, the aisle is packed with what the grocer refers to as “Aldi Finds,” a rotating stock of limited-edition, often seasonally themed items (think: a grill gazebo during summer or spooky ...
Is Aldi food clean? ›
Every one of our ALDI-exclusive brand food products are completely free from certified synthetic colors and has no added MSG or partially hydrogenated oils.
What does Aldi stand for? ›
It was founded by Anna Albrecht and her sons Karl and Theo, who expanded a small store into a chain of self-service, great value stores where people could pay for goods on account. As their business expanded across Germany, they settled on the name Aldi – short for Albrecht and Discount.
Who are the big 6 supermarkets? ›
Loder has written to each of the 'Big Six' – which is comprised of retailers Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl – to demand that farmers and food producers be paid a fair price.
What are the top 10 grocery store chains? ›
Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In The United States
- Walmart. Turnover: $421.8 billion (2023)* ...
- Costco. Turnover: $173.5 billion (estimated – 2023) ...
- Kroger. Turnover: $150.04 billion (2023) ...
- Target. Turnover: $107.4 billion (2023) ...
- Albertsons. Turnover: $79.24 billion (2023) ...
- Ahold Delhaize. ...
- Publix. ...
- 7-Eleven.
Who is bigger, Kroger or Albertsons? ›
It had nearly double the retail sales of the next chain, Albertsons. Founded in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio (where it is still headquartered), by Bernard Kroger, The Kroger Co. has become the largest supermarket chain in the United States and the one of the largest overall retailers, behind the retailing giant, Walmart.
What is the second largest grocery store? ›
ALBERTSONS COS.
At the time that of publication, Kroger (the largest traditional Supermarket company in the U.S.) and Albertsons (the second largest) are still trying to complete their proposed merger. If successful, the combined Kroger/Albertsons entity will dwarf other supermarket chains but still lag behind Walmart.