Costco Overtakes Kroger in U.S. Grocery Sales

Consumer analytics data shows Costco's share of U.S. food and beverage sales passed Kroger's as shoppers look for grocery savings.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Retail

Wide view of a vacant bulk-goods warehouse floor with tall steel shelving stacked with plain cardboard cases under high daylight. — Costco's share of U.S. food and beverage sales passed Kroger's over the past year, with Costco at 8.4% and Kroger at 8.2%, according to Numerator data. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Costco overtook Kroger's share of U.S. retail food and beverage sales, according to data from consumer analytics firm Numerator released this week. Costco holds 8.4% of sales over the last 12 months, while Kroger's share fell 0.2 percentage points to 8.2%.

Why it matters

U.S. households are seeking grocery savings amid rising costs for gas, housing, and insurance, and Costco has kept prices steady this year. Kroger, which hired former Walmart U.S. chief Greg Foran as CEO this year, is pursuing a $5 billion effort to lower prices and tighten operations.

Market share estimates from Numerator for the last 12 months show Costco at 8.4% of U.S. food and beverage sales, up 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier, while Walmart holds 20.3% after a 0.2-point gain. Kroger's $5 billion price and operations effort has not yet shown up in the share data.

The players

Costco

Costco is a membership warehouse retailer that has steadily expanded its share of U.S. grocery and food sales by keeping prices steady.

Kroger

Kroger is one of the largest U.S. supermarket chains, currently pursuing a $5 billion effort to lower prices and tighten operations under new CEO Greg Foran.

Walmart

Walmart is the largest U.S. retailer and holds about one-fifth of U.S. grocery sales, according to the Numerator data.

The details

Costco has steadily gained share over the last two years, while Kroger's share slipped and Albertsons' fell 0.1 percentage points to 4.5%. Kroger's $5 billion effort includes significant corporate workforce cuts over the next few years and ending contracts with suppliers that do not deliver a good enough deal.

Over the last two years, Costco has steadily gained grocery share.
Numerator's market share estimates cover the last 12 months.
Kroger hired Greg Foran as CEO this year.
Kroger plans significant corporate workforce cuts over the next few years.

Market Landscape

Costco's gains and Walmart's 0.2-point increase reflect a shift in U.S. grocery share toward warehouse and mass-market retailers as traditional supermarkets lose ground. Kroger's leadership change and planned workforce cuts point to an effort to regain competitive footing in that shifting market.

Shoppers looking for grocery savings may find Costco's steady pricing an appealing option as Kroger works through its price-cutting effort. Households comparing store prices can track whether Kroger's $5 billion initiative leads to lower shelf prices in coming months.

The takeaway

Households weighing grocery budgets can compare warehouse club pricing with traditional supermarkets, since market share is moving toward stores that have held prices steady. Checking unit prices across both formats can reveal where the best savings are.