Walmart is once again America's grocery king, but rival Costco is rapidly gaining ground

Group 1 - Walmart continues to dominate the US grocery market, capturing 21.2% of grocery spending solely through its Walmart US banner, and 25% when including Sam's Club [1][6] - Walmart's grocery market share is more than double that of its closest competitor, Kroger, and it would require the combined efforts of the four largest grocery chains (Kroger, Albertsons, Publix, and Ahold Delhaize) to surpass Walmart [2] - Costco has been increasing its grocery market share from 7.6% in 2023 to 8.5% now, indicating a growing presence in the grocery sector despite its focus on bulk products [3] Group 2 - The growth in market share for Walmart and Costco is attributed to US shoppers seeking value amid economic uncertainty, leading to increased transactions and sales for these retailers [4] - Both Walmart and Costco also benefit from strong sales in general merchandise, which often yield higher profits than grocery sales, helping to balance lower margins on essential food items [5] - Collectively, Walmart, Sam's Club, and Costco now account for 33.7% of US grocery spending, up from 30.1% five years ago, reflecting a significant shift in consumer behavior towards these value-oriented retailers [6]