Aside from your home, workplace, and maybe your car, there is likely no place you spend more time in than in your local supermarket. It is where you get the things you need for everyday life after all. The establishment of supermarkets represents one of the major innovations of the last century and is one of the hallmarks of modern life. Before supermarkets became a thing, people had to buy their groceries at classic markets from different sellers with different supplies. Thanks to supermarkets, you can now buy all your groceries in one single place.
it is, therefore, no surprise that supermarket chains are hugely popular and are an essential feature of every city, town, or even rural area. The density of these supermarkets has also significantly increased over the years. This is mostly thanks to the supermarket chains that now dominate the global retail business. Supermarket chains belong to a single company that operates multiple supermarkets across different cities, countries, or even continents.
Within the general retail industry, supermarkets represent medium-sized stores that are primarily focused on offering their customers all types of food items with usually a huge variety of different brands and subtypes for each type of food. They are larger in size, product range, and product assortment than convenience stores (also known as corner shops), but smaller than so-called hypermarkets which tend to also offer a huge variety of non-food items alongside groceries.
The following list ranks the 10 biggest supermarket chains in the world by the number of store locations each of these supermarket chains operates.
Note: Only real supermarkets are counted for the ranking. Convenience stores, hypermarkets, 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 Supermarket Chains in the World
1. Lidl
Lidl
Number of store locations worldwide: ~11,200
Established in: 1932
Based in: Neckarsulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Existing supermarkets in: European Union (all member states), UK (in England & Scotland), USA (in Virginia, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Pennsylvania), Switzerland, Serbia
Owned by: Schwarz Group
2. Aldi Sud
Aldi Sud
Number of store locations worldwide: ~7,200
Established in: 1962 (spun off from the unified Aldi company and brand)
Based in: Mulheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Existing supermarkets in: European Union (in Germany, Hungary, Ireland & Italy), USA (in 38 states), UK (except Northern Ireland), Australia, China
Owned by: ALDI SUD Dienstleistungs- und Verwaltungs-SE
3. Aldi Nord
Aldi Nord
Number of store locations worldwide: ~5,300
Established in: 1960 (spun off from the unified Aldi company and brand)
Based in: Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Existing supermarkets in: European Union only (in Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Poland, Portugal & Luxembourg)
Owned by: ALDI Einkauf Verwaltung SE
4. Penny Market
Penny Market
Number of locations worldwide: ~3,600
Established in: 1973
Based in: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Existing supermarkets in: European Union only (in Germany, Czechia, Italy, Romania, Austria & Hungary)
Owned by: REWE Group
5. Carrefour Market
Carrefour Market
Number of locations worldwide: ~3,400
Established in: 2007
Based in: Massy, Ile-de-France, France
Existing supermarkets in: European Union (France, Spain, Poland, Italy, Belgium & Romania), Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, Tunisia, Armenia, UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Cameroon, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Taiwan, Pakistan
Owned by: Carrefour Group
6. Biedronka
Biedronka
Number of store locations worldwide: ~3,200
Established in: 1995
Based in: Kostrzyn, Greater Poland, Poland
Existing supermarkets in: Poland only
Owned by: Jeronimo Martins SGPS, S.A.
7. Kroger
Kroger
Number of store locations worldwide: ~2,800
Established in: 1883
Based in: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Existing supermarkets in: USA only (in 35 states)
Owned by: The Kroger Company
8. AEON
AEON
Number of store locations worldwide: ~2,200
Established in: 1758
Based in: Chiba, Japan
Existing supermarkets in: Japan, Malaysia, China
Owned by: ÆON Co., Ltd.
9. Mercadona
Mercadona
Number of locations worldwide: ~1,700
Established in: 1977
Based in: Tavernes Blanques, Valencian Community, Spain
Existing supermarkets in: European Union only (Spain & Portugal)
Owned by: Mercadona, S.A.
10. Intermarche
Intermarche
Number of locations worldwide: ~1,500
Established in: 1969
Based in: Bondoufle, Ile-de-France, France
Existing supermarkets in: European Union only (France, Portugal, Poland & Belgium)
Owned by: Les Mousquetaires SAS
The Top 10 Biggest Supermarket Chains in the World
(as of 2022)
| Top 10 Biggest Supermarket Chains in the World: |
|---|
| 1. LIDL Number of chain stores worldwide: ~11,200 |
| 2. ALDI SUD Number of chain stores worldwide: ~7,200 |
| 3. ALDI NORD Number of chain stores worldwide: ~5,300 |
| 4. PENNY MARKET Number of chain stores worldwide: ~3,600 |
| 5. CARREFOUR MARKET Number of chain stores worldwide: ~3,400 |
| 6. BIEDRONKA Number of chain stores worldwide: ~3,200 |
| 7. KROGER Number of chain stores worldwide: ~2,800 |
| 8. AEON Number of chain stores worldwide: ~2,200 |
| 9. MERCADONA Number of chain stores worldwide: ~1,700 |
| 10. INTERMARCHE Number of chain stores worldwide: ~1,500 |
The top 10 biggest supermarket chains in the world by number of chain store locations worldwide. Only supermarkets are counted here. Other forms of retail stores (hypermarkets, convenience stores, online stores, drug stores, etc.) are disregarded here.