Archive · 19 Jul 2026
Big Food Faces Challenges with Shoppers and Investors
Big food companies are having a tough time because stores like Walmart and Costco are selling more of their own brand products.
These store brands now make up about a quarter of all grocery sales.
This is a problem for big food companies because it means they have less power to set prices.
Retailers don't want to make things harder for consumers by raising prices, so they are focusing more on their own brands.
This shift is important because it shows how the balance of power is changing in the food industry.
Retailers gain leverage through their own store brands.
Store brands make up 24% of grocery-unit share.
Walmart and Costco have higher store brand shares at 31% and 34% respectively.
Retailers avoid raising prices to support struggling consumers.
Big food companies face challenges due to increasing retailer power.
- Who
- Big food companies and retailers
- What
- Retailers gaining leverage through store brands
- When
- Current situation
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To avoid raising prices for struggling consumers
- Store Brand Market Share
- 24%
- Walmart Store Brand Share
- 31%
- Costco Store Brand Share
- 34%
- Retailer Leverage
- Increasing through own brands
- Consumer Impact
- Retailers avoid raising prices