Summary
Closed doors: Revenue is projected to decline due to increased online competition
Abstract
Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters in the US
The Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters industry comprises stores that retail discount groceries, along with other basic goods such as appliances, and achieve cost savings by leveraging economies of scale, offering products in bulk or charging membership fees. Due to the low-cost, high-value products offered by warehouse clubs and supercenters, the industry typically performs well regardless of the macroeconomic climate. However, when businesses and consumers have deeper pockets, they are likely to spend more at industry establishments. Despite overall industry growth, steep declines in the world price of crude oil have kept revenue gains slow over the five years to 2019. Many industry operators, such as Costco Wholesale Corp., retail fuel at establishment-run gas stations. Therefore, as the world price of crude oil declined, operators were forced to lower gasoline prices. Nevertheless, industry revenue has increased during the current period. Over the five years to 2024, industry revenue is forecast to continue to expand in line with the growing economy and recovering oil prices.
This industry includes large stores that primarily retail a general line of grocery products and merchandise items (e.g. apparel and appliances). Warehouse clubs offer customers a wide selection of goods, often in bulk and at discounted prices, in exchange for a membership fee paid by each customer. Supercenters are large discount department stores that also sell perishable groceries. However, unlike warehouse clubs, supercenters do not have membership requirements for customers.
This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.
