Where do shoppers spend most of their grocery budgets?
Recently, the analytics group Market Force Information surveyed more than 5,000 consumers on their grocery spending habits. Survey respondents came from a variety of economic backgrounds.
Based on Market Force’s results, customers end up spending the largest proportion of their grocery dollars at the following chains.
1. H-E-B
H-E-B began as a one-room Texas family business back in 1905. It was started by Florence Thornton Butt and first named Mrs. C.C. Butt’s Staple and Fancy Grocery. She ran the store out of the first floor of her family’s home.
Her son, Howard Edward Butt, later inherited the store. His management tactics and low prices got the company through the Great Depression. The first store under the name H-E-B came in 1942.
2. Fry’s
Donald Fry opened the first Fry’s Foods in 1954 in Contra Costa County, California, with the help of his brother Charles Fry. In 1999, the company merged with Kroger.
3. King Soopers
Lloyd King left the U.S. Navy and opened the first King Soopers in 1947. It was located in Arvada, Colorado. While “King” comes from his personal name, “Soopers” is a reference to the Archie comics that King’s son was a fan of.
It was the first supermarket in the United States to also have a pharmacy. It later went on to be the first featuring a self-service meat department as well.
Other grocery stores with strong consumer spending
Customers at these next five stores aren’t too far behind in their grocery spending.
- Brookshire Grocery
- Food Lion
- Harris Teeter
- Kroger
- Market Basket
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