Customer-Centric, Omnichannel Initiatives Helping Retailers Grow in All the Right Places, According to STORES Magazine Top 100

STORES/Kantar Retail Report Ranks Top U.S.-Based Retailers by Sales

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STORES Magazine Top 100 Retailers - Power Players

WASHINGTON--()--The nation’s largest retailers, as ranked by STORES Magazine and Kantar Retail, have collectively held their top spots thanks to one common denominator: a customer-centric, omnichannel focused business model. The annual ranking of U.S. retailers by domestic sales, is featured in the July issue of STORES Magazine. The report was sponsored by Island Pacific and NEC.

“The biggest retailers continue to get bigger because they embrace change,” says Susan Reda, editor, STORES Media. “Every one of the top companies maintains a razor-sharp focus on addressing shifting consumer behaviors and is embracing changes in technology – in particular the digital landscape. It’s an amazing time to be in retail.”

Wal-Mart Stores (1), The Kroger Co. (2), Costco (3), The Home Depot (4), Walgreen (5), Target (6), CVS Caremark (7), Lowe’s Corporation (8) and Amazon.com (9) have largely kept their spot in the top 10 in recent years, likely a result of their keen ability to connect with their savvy customers. Omnichannel strategies like buy online-pick up in store, direct-to-customer fulfillment, same-day shipping and mobile shopping have transformed the shopping experience and boosted sales in both physical and e-commerce spaces.

“Both the Top 10 and the rapid climbers in the Top 100 show a commitment to innovation in both the physical and digital worlds,” says Bryan Gildenberg, Kantar Retail’s chief knowledge officer. “For most of these retailers save Amazon, well over 90% of their business is still store-based, so omnichannel innovation needs to be integrated into the store and the online experiences seamlessly. In particular, innovations in format and store design, value communication and shopper engagement across all channels are key to growth and success.”

New additions, big shifts in Top 100

The purchase of U.S. luxury brands Saks, Inc. and Lord & Taylor put Hudson’s Bay Company (80) on the list for the first time. The Canadian-based department store operator reported 2014 U.S. sales grew 254 percent to $5.1 billion from the previous year.

Casual dining chains Domino’s (94) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (96) also joined the Top 100 list for the first time; Domino’s reported U.S. sales grew 9.2 percent in 2014, while Chipotle boasted growth of 27.9 percent during that time.

California-based Jack in the Box (84), with 2,888 locations and $4.7 billion in sales, also was ranked for the first time on the Top 100.

Several companies who’ve appeared on the list for the last few years have shifted rank. Wegmans Food Markets grew from 62 on the list last year to 57 in 2015; Missouri-based O’Reilly Automotive rose from 65 last year to 58 in 2015. Sherwin-Williams moved up seven spots to 68 and Dick’s Sporting Goods, whose sales increased 9.2 percent in 2014, moved to number 62 on the list from 69 the previous year.

                   
Rank     Store    

2014 U.S.
Sales (000)

    Sales Growth
(’14 v ’13)
1     Wal-Mart     $343,624,000     2.8%
2     Kroger     $103,033,000     10.1%
3     Costco     $79,694,000     6.6%
4     The Home Depot     $74,203,000     3.6%
5     Walgreen     $72,671,000     5.8%
6     Target     $72,618,000     1.9%
7     CVS Caremark     $67,974,000     3.6%
8     Lowe’s Companies     $54,805,000     5.1%
9     Amazon.com     $49,353,000     22.6%
10     Safeway     $36,330,000     -2.1%

About the Survey

The STORES Top 100 Retailers are listed by U.S. sales, which may include estimates for private or closely-held companies. Retailers included in the Top 100 either have group headquarters located in the United States or are foreign entities with significant operations in the U.S. market. For retailers with group headquarters located overseas, data is presented for North American operations only. Revenues from major non-retailing operating segments are excluded where data availability allows.

Kantar Retail. The retail and shopper specialists. Kantar Retail (www.kantarretail.com) is a leading retail and shopper insight, consulting and analytics and technology business, part of Kantar Group, the data investment management division of WPP. We work with leading brand manufacturers and retailers to help them sell more effectively and profitably. At Kantar Retail we track and forecast over 1000 retailers globally and have purchase data on over 200 million shoppers. Amongst our market leading reports are the annual PoweRanking® survey and the Digital Power Study. Kantar Retail works with over 400 clients and has 26 offices in 15 markets around the globe.

STORES Media is the publishing group of the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world’s largest retail trade association. STORES Media offerings include STORES magazine (print, digital and mobile versions) and STORES Weekly. STORES products report on the broad spectrum of strategic issues facing senior retail executives, including: retail technology, supply chain and logistics, credit and payment systems, loss prevention, human resources, omni-channel retailing, communications, marketing, merchandising and other vital store operations.

Download STORES Top 100 article and view complete list

Contacts

National Retail Federation (NRF)
Treacy Reynolds or Kathy Grannis Allen, 855-NRF-PRESS
press@nrf.com

Release Summary

The 2015 STORES Magazine/Kantar Retail Top 100 Retailers report ranks the nation's largest retailers by U.S. revenues.

Contacts

National Retail Federation (NRF)
Treacy Reynolds or Kathy Grannis Allen, 855-NRF-PRESS
press@nrf.com