Shopping preferences can differ. Some people value and prefer having nearby smaller stores “right around the corner” and are willing to accept the limited range of products such shops tend to offer. Others, on the other hand, prefer to take care of their shopping needs in one single store. Hypermarkets represent such “all-in-one” stores.
Hypermarkets are big box stores with selling areas of usually well over 5,000 sq meters / 50,000 sq feet. Like the smaller supermarkets, they offer customers a full range of groceries. However, unlike supermarkets, hypermarket chains additionally offer various non-food items to buy. It provides you with almost anything you need in your household.
The following ranking lists the Top 10 biggest hypermarket chains in the world based on the number of locations each chain has.
Note: Only hypermarket chains are counted for the ranking. Chains of convenience stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and other types of retail businesses are not part of the ranking.
Check out the Top 10 rankings for other store types right here:
The 10 Biggest Hypermarket Chains in the World
1. Walmart
Walmart
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~4,500
Established in: 1962
Based in: Bentonville, Arkansas, USA
Existing hypermarkets in: USA (in all states + D.C., except Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, China, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua
Owned by: Walmart Inc.
2. Target
Target
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~1,900
Established in: 1962
Based in: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Existing hypermarkets in: USA only (in all states + D.C.)
Owned by: Target Corporation
3. Kaufland
Kaufland
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~1,400
Established in: 1984
Based in: Neckarsulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Existing hypermarkets in: European Union (in Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria & Croatia), Moldova
Owned by: Schwarz Group
4. Carrefour
Carrefour
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~1,200
Established in: 1958
Based in: Massy, Ile-de-France, France
Existing hypermarkets in: European Union (in France, Spain, Poland, Italy, Belgium & Romania), Brazil, Argentina, China, Morocco, Tunisia, Armenia, UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Cameroon, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Taiwan, Pakistan, Georgia
Owned by: Carrefour Group
5. Costco
Costco
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~830
Established in: 1983
Based in: Issaquah, Washington, USA
Existing hypermarkets in: USA (in 46 states + D.C.), Canada, Mexico, Japan, UK (except Northern Ireland), Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, European Union (in Spain & France), China, Iceland
Owned by: Costco Wholesale Corporation
6. E. Leclerc
E. Leclerc
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~790
Established in: 1949
Based in: Ivry-sur-Seine, Ile-de-France, France
Existing hypermarkets in: European Union (in France, Spain, Portugal, Poland & Slovenia), Andorra
Owned by: E. Leclerc S.A.
7. Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~600
Established in: 1983
Based in: Bentonville, Arkansas, USA
Existing hypermarkets in: USA (in 44 states), Puerto Rico, Brazil, China, Mexico
Owned by: Walmart Inc.
8. Metro
Metro
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~560
Established in: 1963
Based in: Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Existing hypermarkets in: European Union (in Germany, France, Italy, Romania, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia & Slovakia), Russia, Turkey, India, Ukraine, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Moldova
Owned by: Metro AG
9. RT-Mart
RT-Mart
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~490
Established in: 1997
Based in: Taipei, Taiwan
Existing hypermarkets in: Taiwan, China
Owned by: Sun Art Retail Group Ltd.
10. Auchan
Auchan
Number of hypermarket store locations worldwide: ~460
Established in: 1961
Based in: Croix, Hauts-de-France, France
Existing hypermarkets in: European Union (in France, Poland, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Hungary & Luxembourg), Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine, Senegal
Owned by: Association Familiale Mulliez
The Top 10 Biggest Hypermarket Chains in the World
(as of 2022)
| Top 10 Biggest Hypermarket Chains in the World: |
|---|
| 1. WALMART Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~4,500 |
| 2. TARGET Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~1,900 |
| 3. KAUFLAND Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~1,400 |
| 4. CARREFOUR Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~1,200 |
| 5. COSTCO Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~830 |
| 6. E. LECLERC Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~790 |
| 7. SAM’S CLUB Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~600 |
| 8. METRO Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~560 |
| 9. RT-MART Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~490 |
| 10. AUCHAN Number of hypermarkets worldwide: ~460 |
Top 10 biggest hypermarket chains in the world based on the number of hypermarket store locations a chain has. Only hypermarket chains and hypermarket stores are counted for the ranking. Convenience stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and other types of retail businesses are not part of the ranking.