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CHICAGO MARKET PROFILE
“Larger chains are finding the one-stop-shop is the way to cap- ture more business. ... Smaller stores still carry value here
in Chicago, where the ethnic
neighborhoods are prevalent.” — Greg Kirwin, La Hacienda Brands
stores. Larger chains are finding the one-stop- shop is the way to capture more business. Smaller stores still have purpose in the neigh- borhoods, capturing small niche business. Smaller stores still carry value here in Chicago, where the ethnic neighborhoods are prevalent.”
Major retailers continue to lead the market share, according to Chain Store Guide. Jewel-Osco, a banner brand of Albertsons, accounts for 22 percent of market share, and big box retailers Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club hold the next slots with 12.2, 10.5 and 6.3 percent respectively. Yet, the rest of the market is fairly evenly divided by a host of chain and independent retailers. Mariano’s (Roundy’s), Meijer and Pick ’n Save post a
little more than 5 percent of the marketplace with other format-based stores, including Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and “dollar stores” holding a smaller percentage. And, dozens of independents each claim a share including fresh-focused operations such as Pete’s Market and Standard Market.
Chicago’s independent retailers provide
a strong and varied environment. “We have some independent customers with 10, 12 or 14 stores,” says Fleming. “The market also still has a lot of retailers with four to five stores, and hundreds of mom-and-pop oper- ations with just one or two stores. They all have a niche they’ve carved out depending on their location, who they sell to and what
84 / JUNE 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS