Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: July 2024
NAICS 44511CARevenue
$111.4bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
446k
Businesses
8,422
Wages
$XX.Xbn
Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada industry analysis
While supermarkets and grocery stores sell essential food products, they still fell victim to the pandemic-influenced volatility of recent years. At the pandemic's peak, supermarket revenue spiked as consumers had few other options for purchasing food items. In the following years, revenue sank as alternative options for food emerged, and largely home-bound consumers desperately craved different experiences. Concurrently, disposable income slumped and food prices spiked, forcing many to tighten their budgets. Economic conditions improved in the pandemic's wake and revenue returned to growth. Over the past five years, revenue has been rising at a CAGR of 0.5% and is expected to reach $111.5 billion in 2024, when it will expand 1.3%.
Trends and Insights
- The competition is intensifying for supermarkets due to the rise of substitutes like online stores and big-box retailers. This increased competition, along with higher food prices due to disruptions in supply chains, has deeply impacted profit, particularly for smaller grocers that struggle to compete on price and variety.
- Rising health consciousness has heightened demand for fruits, nuts and vegetables. However, their price volatility has prompted consumers to explore alternative purchasing options like farmers' markets, challenging traditional supermarket revenues.
- Ontario's high population and proximity to the US make it a prime supermarket location. The dense urban centers like Toronto and Ottawa attract numerous grocers due to the high demand and potential for reduced supply costs, but this also brings intense competition that newer supermarkets may find challenging.
- The legal requirements and start-up costs for new supermarkets in Canada present moderate but increasing barriers to entry. Obtaining a food sales license under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations is mandatory, and familiarity with various food handling protocols is essential.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $111.4bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The pandemic introduced a heightened level of volatility
- Amid the pandemic's peak, supermarkets and grocery stores experienced a swift spike in revenue, as business closures and limited operational capacity limited other retailers.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Expanding economic stability will support steadier revenue
- Concerns surrounding inflation and interest rates will still fuel recessionary fears in the coming years. Still, the economy is set to experience much more stable conditions as the pandemic fades further into the rearview mirror.
Biggest companies in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Loblaw Companies Limited | 41,480.9 | 2,925.0 | 7.1 | |
Empire Company Limited | 39,623.3 | 1,679.7 | 4.2 | |
Metro Inc. | 15,810.0 | 1,163.9 | 7.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Dairy products and eggs , Fish and seafood and Meat. Dairy products and eggs is the largest segment of the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada.
Trends and Insights
Grains are a staple in Canadian diets, maintaining a steady share of revenue
- Grains are used in various products, including bakery products, cereals and various snacks, like breakfast bars and granola, among many others. Because of grains' ubiquitous nature, these products have remained a relatively stable source of revenue for most supermarkets.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Convenience Stores in Canada
- Specialty Food Stores in Canada
- Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores in Canada
- Warehouse Clubs & Supercentres in Canada
Complementors
- There are no industries to display.
International industries
- Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in the US
- Ethnic Supermarkets in the US
- Online Grocery Sales in the US
- Supermarkets and Grocery Stores in Australia
- Supermarkets, Grocery Stores and Convenience Stores in New Zealand
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Supermarkets and Grocery Stores industry in Canada comprises the largest food retail channel in Canada. These establishments retail general lines of food products, including fresh and prepared meats, poultry and seafood, canned and frozen foods, fresh fruits and vegetables and various dairy products. This industry excludes convenience stores, warehouse clubs and supercentres.
What's included in this industry?
Retailing a general line of foodRetailing health and beauty productsRetailing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beveragesCompanies
Loblaw Companies LimitedEmpire Company LimitedMetro Inc.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
POINT-OF-SALE (POS) SYSTEM RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) ELECTRONIC COMMERCEIndustry Code
NAICS 445110 - Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The competition is intensifying for supermarkets due to the rise of substitutes like online stores and big-box retailers. This increased competition, along with higher food p...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Rising health consciousness has heightened demand for fruits, nuts and vegetables. However, their price volatility has prompted consumers to explore alternative purchasing op...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Ontario's high population and proximity to the US make it a prime supermarket location. The dense urban centers like Toronto and Ottawa attract numerous grocers due to the hi...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The legal requirements and start-up costs for new supermarkets in Canada present moderate but increasing barriers to entry. Obtaining a food sales license under the Safe Food...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The top four supermarkets in Canada comprise more than three-quarters of revenue. Concentration is high because of high start-up costs and recent acquisitions.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Loblaw Companies Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Empire Company Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Metro Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Loblaw Companies Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Empire Company Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Metro Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Canadian supermarkets benefit from robust support via programs like the AgriMarketing Program and organizations like the Retail Council of Canada. These resources boost growt...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Supermarkets have historically struggled with low profit, exacerbated by high competition and market saturation. The pandemic briefly boosted profitability due to a surge in ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Assets (2017-2022)
- Liabilities (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada in 2024?
The market size of the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada is $111.4bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada industry in 2024?
There are 8,422 businesses in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores market in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores market in Canada are Loblaw Companies Limited, Empire Company Limited and Metro Inc.
What does the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada include?
Retailing a general line of food and Retailing health and beauty products are part of the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in Canada is Loblaw Companies Limited.
How competitive is the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Supermarkets & Grocery Stores industry in Canada.
