1. Walmart Neighborhood Market
Walmart Neighborhood Market: The discount grocery operator, which takes spaces from 33,000 to 55,000 sq. ft., plans to open 95 to 115 stores over the next year, throughout the country.
2. Aldi
Aldi, another discount operator, will open from 80 to 100 stores. Its stores range from 10,000 sq. ft. to 18,000 sq. ft. in size.
3. Save-A-Lot
Save-A-Lot, a unit of Supervalu, would like to open 60 new stores over the coming 12 month. The chain, which operates stores in the 10,000-sq.-ft. to 20,000-sq.-ft. range, is looking for areas with median household incomes of at least $40,000.
4. Whole Foods Market
On the upper end of the price range, organic food specialist Whole Foods Market plans to open 50 new stores in the near term. Its stores range from 35,000 to 50,000 sq. ft. and it recently announced its intention to go into more underserved markets like Detroit and the South Side of Chicago, in addition to affluent urban and suburban areas.
5. Trader Joe's
Hip discount grocer Trader Joe’s continued to be on an expansion path as well. The chain will open 30 stores in the coming year, ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 sq. ft.
6. Food Lion
Food Lion, a unit of Delhaize America, will open 22 new stores in the next 12 months. The chain prefers locations between 25,000 and 35,000 sq. ft. and is focused on the Mid-Atlantic region.
7. Fresh Market
Fresh Market, another upscale chain on our list, set a goal of 20 new stores this year. The retailer currently operates 134 units, ranging from 18,000 to 25,000 sq. ft., and has its sights on Western U.S. Fresh Market would eventually like to operate 500 stores.
8. Sunflower Farmers Market
Sunflower Farmers Market, with an existing fleet of 150 stores, would like to add another 20 to the count. A regional player in Western U.S., it plays in the mid-size segment, with stores of 23,000 to 28,000 sq. ft.
9. Grocery Outlet
Western U.S.-based chain Grocery Outlet has also set a target of 20 new stores this year. Grocery Outlet currently operates 200 units, ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 sq. ft.
10. Food 4 Less
Food 4 Less, a Kroger concept, should open 16 stores in the near future. The chain, with a focus on Western U.S., operates supermarkets in the 50,000 to 80,000-sq.-ft. range.
