Kroger and Walmart are two of the largest food stores in the US, with physical and online locations accessible to their growing number of patrons.
In terms of grocery shopping in the US, both Kroger and Walmart are well-known brands. When consumers need to buy anything essential for their daily lives, they turn to these businesses. Both stores do not disappoint in terms of grocery supply.
Kroger and Walmart are well-known for their significant discounts and plans that benefit both the company and the customers. But which is better and cheaper between the two? Find out as we compare Kroger vs. Walmart in this article.
Kroger vs. Walmart – Which Is Better And Cheaper in 2023?
Walmart has a smaller assortment, but it is generally less expensive. Kroger, on the other hand, has a wide range of merchandise. Equally, Kroger has a higher quality of fresh items and a more extensive selection of processed foods, but it is also more expensive.
Walmart and Kroger are both expanding their produce departments. Kroger adds more locations, and Walmart installs bins and broader aisles to make their produce department feel more like a farmer’s market.
Who Is Kroger?
Kroger is the third-biggest retailer in the US regarding revenue and the largest supermarket in terms of profits. Based in the US, it is the seventh-largest privately-held employer in the country. Bernard Kroger began the company in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1883.
In the Fortune 500 ranking of the largest firms in the US, Kroger is ranked as the 23rd largest company. The headquarters of the Kroger corporation is located in the center of downtown Cincinnati.
Kroger’s corporation operates in the District of Columbia and 35 additional states, in addition to hypermarkets and stores such as department stores, 142 jewelry stores, and superstores.
Who Is Walmart?
Walmart is an American global retail firm headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, that operates a large chain of stores, including grocery stores, hypermarkets, discount stores, and other types of stores. Sam Walton created Walmart corporation in nearby Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962.
There are around 10,556 Walmart stores and clubs in 24 countries – all of which operate under different names. Walmart alone employs 2.2 million people, making it the world’s largest private employer. Walmart is a publicly-traded family enterprise controlled by the Walton family.
Walmart, the largest grocery retailer in the US, reported retail sales of $510.329 billion in 2019, accounting for 65 percent of total sales.
In the early 1990s, the company grew beyond the South and lower Midwest. By 1998, it had become the largest retailer in the United States in terms of revenue. Initially, the corporation primarily had stores in the South and Lower Midwest, but it currently has locations across the United States.
Wal-Mart has made it simple for individuals to purchase retail items by requiring them to pick up their orders at pickup towers. This means that people may easily buy what they want without wandering throughout the store or queue at the checkout.
How Do Kroger And Walmart Compare With Each Other?
Several parameters can be used to compare Kroger and Walmart, some of which are listed below.
Price
Walmart’s prices are generally roughly 4% lower than Kroger’s. But, Kroger’s prices are lower when it comes to proteins, dairy, and overall produce. Kroger offers discounts on the most popular commodities, such as apples, green apples, bell peppers, and baby carrots.
Pre-cut vegetables and organic by-products are expensive at Kroger. The department labels products sold in small quantities as expensive, such as bananas and spinach, despite Kroger attempting to lower its prices to compete with Walmart.
If pricing is the essential consideration, Walmart is an excellent place to shop for groceries. Here’s a quick snapshot of the Kroger vs. Walmart price comparison.
| Category | Kroger | Walmart | Savings |
| Staple groceries | $48.40 | $48.49 | $0.09 (0.19%) |
| Non-perishables | $49.94 | $50.85 | $0.91 (1.79%) |
| Frozen Foods | $35.94 | $32.86 | $3.08 (8.57%) |
| Snack and Drinks | $60.49 | $61.05 | $0.56 (0.92%) |
| Health and Beauty | $59.78 | $65.88 | $6.10 (9.26%) |
| OTC Pharmacy | $69.65 | $82.99 | $13.34 (16.07%) |
| Home Essentials | $100.40 | $89.04 | $11.36 (11.31%) |
| Pet Care | $104.61 | $83.14 | $21.47 (20.52%) |
| Baby | $152.96 | $175.80 | $22.84 (12.99%) |
| Total Cart Price | $682.17 | $690.10 | $7.93 (1.15%) |
Quality
In terms of meat and produce, Walmart falls short of Kroger. Many other supermarkets sell meat of a higher grade than Walmart. Produce sold at Walmart goes bad faster than produce sold at Kroger. Walmart compromises quality to achieve its goal of cheaper costs.
If food quality and variety are essential to you, Kroger is a terrific place to shop for groceries.
Variety of Products
Walmart has lower costs on processed items, but Kroger has a more extensive selection. If you prefer a specific cereal sold by Walmart, it will undoubtedly be less expensive. Kroger might be a better pick for someone seeking a more comprehensive range of products, both quality and variety.
Accessibility And Customer Service
Walmart is the world’s largest grocery retailer, with over 5,000 locations in the United States. Supercenters, discount stores, local markets, Sam’s Club, and small-format stores are among the company’s operations.
On the other hand, Kroger is the country’s second-largest retailer, with 2,764 locations. Kroger has a larger footprint, including supermarkets, multi-dimensional stores, warehouse clubs, and convenience stores under 30 different banners despite having more locations than Walmart.
In addition, the two supermarket giants compare differently in programs and services. Here’s a snapshot of how they compare in this parameter.
| Service | Kroger | Walmart |
| Curbside Pickup | Customers can pick up items worth more than $35 for free at Kroger. There is a $4.95 service fee for curbside pickup if your order is less than $35. | Walmart also provides same-day curbside pickup for free. |
| Shipping | Customers can get their groceries delivered via Kroger. Ship is an online ordering service that lets you purchase big, heavy, and oversized things that aren’t generally available in stores. It takes 1-3 days for your order to arrive. | On orders of $35 or more, Walmart offers free 3-5 day shipping. |
| Delivery | Customers can order delivery from Kroger, but there is a cost ranging from $9.95 to $11.95, depending on where you live. | When you spend $35 or more at participating Walmart locations, you may get free next-day and two-day delivery on select items. |
| Return Policy | Customers will receive refunds on purchases whether or not they have a receipt. If you have a receipt, you will be refunded in the same manner that you paid. Kroger will pay you cash if you don’t have a receipt and the purchase was less than $10. Kroger will give you a gift card if your purchase is over $10. | Walmart has a 90-day return policy on most things and, in some cases, will accept returns without a receipt. |
| Loyalty Programs | Although Kroger does not offer personal awards to customers, the Kroger Community Rewards program does. Your benefits will be donated to a charity of your choice as a result of this. | Walmart Plus membership costs $12.95 a month or $98 per year and includes benefits such as free shipping and delivery, mobile check out, and prescription and petrol discounts. |
| Customer Service | On Trustpilot, both Kroger and Walmart have a poor 1.5 rating. Customers at both Kroger and Walmart complain about useless employees, unaddressed issues, and filthy conditions. |
Sales
According to Forbes, Walmart sells more than $500 billion in items each year. This is unsurprising given the company’s low prices and the ease with which clients may buy food or other items online. They can have their groceries delivered or picked up without ever walking into a store.
On the other hand, Kroger’s revenues are much lower than Walmart’s, which generates $121 billion in annual income.
Kroger vs. Walmart – Which Is The Better Workplace?
In 2021, Kroger had roughly 465,000 employees, whereas Walmart had 2.3 million employees worldwide, including 1.6 million in the United States. As a result, when comparing the work conditions based on employee input on Comparably, Walmart outperforms Kroger.
However, employees at both Kroger and Walmart have expressed dissatisfaction with the overall culture, compensation, and benefits they get.
Is Kroger Or Walmart A Member Of The Labor Union? What Difference Does It Make?
Walmart is not a unionized retailer, although Kroger is.
People frequently complain about how Walmart treats its employees, but being a union member does not guarantee that you will be treated better or have better working circumstances.
Take a look at Publix, for example. Publix has never been a labor union member, but it has been named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For for the past 23 years. Since the list’s inception in 1998, they’ve appeared on it every year.
Whole Foods Market, which has remained staunchly non-union since its inception in 1981, has seen comparable beneficial effects.
Despite being a unionized company, Kroger has never been on the list.
Originally, labor unions were formed to ensure that employees were paid a fair salary, received benefits, and worked in safe conditions. These rights are now provided by state and federal labor laws that did not exist when unions were required.
Union membership is also on the decline. The decline in membership can be attributed to several factors, one of which is current labor regulations. That, and most (though certainly not all) firms recognize the need to treat people well to keep them.
Over 90% of non-union workers are said to be very happy with their jobs and believe they have a better work environment, compensation, and benefits. In terms of consumer cost, there isn’t much of a difference.
So, in the end, being a member of a union is irrelevant. Unions were crucial in defending workers, particularly in the early to mid-nineteenth century. However, in many ways, the benefits they provide are no longer worth the costs to workers.
Conclusion
Our advice is to shop at Walmart if you want the best pricing, but there’s a catch. You’ll have to shop for the lowest products you can find, which means purchasing items from the Great Value private label. Although these things are the cheapest, they are notorious for sacrificing quality.
On the other hand, Kroger has pretty comparable prices without the excessive costs that seem to be all too typical at Walmart.
