Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores — Market Size & Saturation
There are 58,356 supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores establishments in the United States — that's 17.6 businesses per 100,000 people.
Is Supermarkets and Other Grocery Oversaturated?
With 17.6 businesses per 100,000 people, the supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores market has moderate competition. There are 58,356 establishments nationally — enough to indicate proven demand, but not so many that the market feels crowded.
This level of saturation often represents a sweet spot: the market is validated (customers exist and are spending), but there's still room for new entrants with differentiated offerings. Geographic pockets may be underserved.
Competition Dynamics
Entry and exit rates reveal how actively the competitive landscape is changing.
More businesses are opening (9.0%) than closing (7.8%) — the market is expanding and attracting new entrants. Competition is intensifying.
Should You Enter This Market?
Here's a summary of the competitive picture for supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores:
Market Size
58,356 establishments
Density
17.6 per 100K people
Avg Revenue/Business
$16.2M/year
Competition Level
Moderate Competition
There's room in this market for well-positioned newcomers. Focus on identifying underserved geographic areas or customer segments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores businesses are in the US?
- There are 58,356 supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores establishments in the United States (65,750 unique firms). This translates to approximately 17.6 businesses per 100,000 people nationwide.
- Is the supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores market oversaturated?
- With 17.6 businesses per 100K people, the supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores market has moderate competition — not oversaturated, but not wide open either.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW (2023), U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Population: 331,449,281 (2020 Census).