Top Walmart Competitors and Alternatives in Retail

Discover the top Walmart competitors driving retail innovation. Learn how these brands challenge Walmart and what sets them apart.

Walmart, founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, is the largest retail corporation globally. It operates over 11,300 stores, including hypermarkets, discount stores, and grocery outlets, across 27 countries under 55 different brands. Walmart employs about 2.2 million people worldwide, with 1.5 million in the United States alone.

Walmart operates through several divisions: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, Sam’s Club, and Global eCommerce. These divisions offer a mix of retail formats. In 2021, Walmart generated $559.2 billion in revenue, driven largely by its everyday low pricing strategy.

Who are Walmart’s biggest competitors?

Walmart’s top competitors include Amazon, Costco, Kroger, Walgreens, The Home Depot, Tesco, Carrefour, Target, and CVS Health. In China, Alibaba and JD.com challenge Walmart, while in India, Flipkart and Amazon are the main rivals.

Below is an overview of the main competitors challenging Walmart in the retail industry.

Here is the list of top Walmart competitors in the retail industry.

  1. Amazon
  2. Costco
  3. Kroger
  4. Walgreens
  5. The Home Depot
  6. Tesco
  7. Carrefour
  8. Target
  9. CVS Health Corp
  10. Walmart China Competitors
  11. Walmart India Competitors

Amazon

Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is the world’s largest e-commerce retailer. Beyond online retail, Amazon operates several business segments including Amazon Web Services (AWS), digital streaming, and increasingly, physical stores.

Amazon holds nearly 50% of the U.S. online retail market share. In 2022, Amazon reported $514 billion in revenue with a net income of $33 billion. Amazon’s ability to innovate and adapt quickly keeps it a strong competitor to Walmart, especially in e-commerce.

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco is a membership-only warehouse club founded in 1976 and based in Issaquah, Washington. It operates 831 warehouses worldwide, with 563 in the U.S. and the rest across Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.

Costco focuses on bulk sales targeting families and businesses. It reported $242 billion in revenue and $5 billion in net income for fiscal year 2022. Costco’s loyal membership base of over 127 million cardholders makes it a key rival to Walmart in warehouse retailing.

Kroger

Kroger, founded in 1883 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the largest supermarket chain in the U.S. It runs over 2,700 stores, including supermarkets and multi-department formats.

For fiscal 2022, Kroger reported $148 billion in revenue and $3 billion in net income. Kroger competes closely with Walmart in grocery and digital shopping, serving approximately one-third of American households regularly.

Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens, established in 1901 and based in Deerfield, Illinois, is one of the largest pharmacy retail chains in the U.S. It operates roughly 9,000 stores focused on pharmacy, health care, and consumer products.

In 2022, Walgreens reported $138 billion in revenue. The company’s rebranding emphasizes trust, care, and accessibility, making it a notable competitor in health-focused retail alongside Walmart.

The Home Depot

The Home Depot, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest home improvement retailer. It operates over 2,300 stores in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

In 2022, Home Depot earned $157 billion in revenue and $22 billion in net income. Its strong growth in both in-store and online sales positions it as a major rival to Walmart in home improvement retail.

Tesco PLC

Tesco, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Hertfordshire, UK, is a leading grocery and general merchandise retailer with over 6,800 stores worldwide. It serves markets in the UK, Europe, and Asia.

For the 2022 fiscal year, Tesco reported $97 billion in revenue. Tesco’s acquisition of ASDA (previously owned by Walmart) makes it a significant player in the UK retail market.

Carrefour S.A.

Carrefour, established in 1958 and based in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, operates over 12,000 stores worldwide across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. It includes hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

Carrefour’s 2022 revenue reached €83 billion. The company is a strong competitor to Walmart in many international markets, especially in Europe and Latin America.

Target Corporation

Target, founded in 1902 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, operates 1,900 stores in the U.S. It is a general merchandise retailer known for a broad product range, including food, apparel, and household items.

In 2022, Target generated $109 billion in revenue. Its growing e-commerce business, which accounted for approximately $15 billion, challenges Walmart’s online presence.

CVS Health Corporation

CVS Health, headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, operates about 9,900 retail pharmacies across the U.S. It also has pharmaceutical services and health care divisions.

In 2022, CVS reported $322 billion in revenue. Its extensive store network and focus on health services position it as a key competitor in pharmacy and retail sectors.

Walmart China Competitors

In China, Walmart faces competition mainly from local retailers like Alibaba Group. Alibaba dominates e-commerce with platforms offering over 800 million products, supported by advanced logistics and payment systems.

To compete, Walmart formed a strategic alliance with JD.com to strengthen its position in China. Amazon holds less than 1% market share in the Chinese e-commerce market and has scaled back operations there.

Walmart India Competitors

In India, Flipkart is Walmart’s main competitor in e-commerce. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Flipkart holds a large share of the Indian online market.

In 2018, Walmart acquired a 77% controlling stake in Flipkart for $16 billion. Amazon India remains a key rival, along with local players like Snapdeal.

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