Which grocery store is visited the most in NC? This interactive graph breaks it down.
It seems everyone in North Carolina has a favorite grocery store. But what store is the state’s most visited?
According to data compiled by SafeGraph, which maintains datasets “about the physical world,” Walmart consistently receives the most foot traffic, compared to the four other stores included in the analysis: Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Costco and Aldi.
In November 2022, the most recent month for which SafeGraph has data available, Walmart stores in North Carolina received more than 6 million visits — defined as a stay at the location lasting longer than four minutes.
Comparatively, Food Lion is consistently the second-most visited grocery store in the state, according to SafeGraph’s data, with more than 1 million visits logged in November 2022.
Aldi was the third-most visited grocery store in North Carolina in November 2022, with about 620,000 visits logged. Costco received the fourth-most visits at about 322,000, and Harris Teeter ranked fifth with about 223,000 visits.
SafeGraph’s full breakdown of foot traffic among the five stores across North Carolina is available in the interactive graph below. The graph includes data from January 2019 to November 2022. The graph is updated monthly with new data.
Note: It’s worth considering that curbside pickup services and online ordering have increased during the pandemic, which may impact foot traffic numbers at stores. Also, some stores, including Walmart and Costco, may lure shoppers for items other than groceries, such as housewares or clothes.
How does NC grocery store foot traffic compare to market share?
The News & Observer previously analyzed and reported the market shares of several grocery store chains in the Triangle, based on information from Chain Store Guide.
Based on Chain Store Guide’s Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), Walmart was the market share leader in the Wake-Johnston-Franklin county areas in 2022. Walmart accounted for 21.1% of the grocery market share in those county areas, according to the April 2022 report from Chain Store Guide, up from its 20.3% share in the 2019 report.
Harris Teeter, which SafeGraph found to be the least-visited of the five stores included in its statewide analysis, accounted for the second-highest market share in the Wake region, at 20.3% of the market share, up from 16.7% in 2019.
In the Chatham-Durham-Orange CBSA, though, Harris Teeter accounted for the highest grocery market share, at 26.4%. Walmart claimed the second place spot in Chain Store Guide’s analysis, accounting for 20.9% of the grocery market share in the Durham region in 2022. Walmart was previously the market share leader in the Durham CBSA.
Food Lion also ranks high in both regions’ market shares, taking the third place spot in each. In both regions, Food Lion stores account for about 14% of the grocery market share, according to Chain Store Guide.
