Updated July 11, 2012
What are the "top" U.S. retail chains? If you ask Stores Magazine and Kantar Retail Consultancy, it's the 100 U.S. based retail chains which generate the largest amount of retail revenue in the U.S. each year. It is from U.S. retail sales figures alone that the annual Top 100 Retailers list is compiled and ranked each year.
What follows is a complete multi-year comparison of the largest U.S. retail chains which were included on the annual Top 100 Retailers list in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, or 2008. Since 2008 was a key recession year for the U.S. retail industry, this multi-year comparison reveals how each of these "Top 100" retail companies have thrived and survived in the recession recovery years.
This list is arranged alphabetically according to the retail chain name. The numbers to the right of each year indicate the U.S. revenue ranking that the retail chain received, compared to a total of 100 companies.
2012 Top 100 U.S. Retail Chains Multi-Year Comparison:
7-Eleven
2012 - #35
2011 - #40
2010 - #33
2009 - #22
2008 - #29
A&P
2012 - #57
2011 - #45
2010 - #34
2009 - #41
2008 - #55
Abercrombie & Fitch
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - #94
2009 - #96
2008 - #89
Ace Hardware
2012 - #38
2011 - #36
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
Advance Auto Parts
2012 - #67
2011 - #61
2010 - #60
2009 - #67
2008 - #69
Ahold USA / Royal Ahold
2012 - #18
2011 - #16
2010 - #16
2009 - #17
2008 - #17
Albertsons
2012 - #82
2011 - #77
2010 - #71
2009 - #64
2008 - #59
Aldi
2012 - #40
2011 - #42
2010 - #45
2009 - #59
2008 - #91
Alimentation Couche-Tard
2012 - #76
2011 - #75
2010 - #73
2009 - #25
2008 - #31
Amazon.com
2012 - #15
2011 - #19
2010 - #26
2009 - #19
2008 - #25
American Eagle Outfitters
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - 97
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
Apple Stores/iTunes
2012 - #21
2011 - #21
2010 - #53
2009 - #40
2008 - #52
Army Air Force Exchange
2012 - #47
2011 - #43
2010 - #35
2009 - #43
2008 - #41
AT&T Wireless
2012 - #62
2011 - #69
2010 - #66
2009 - #71
2008 - #81
AutoZone
2012 - #61
2011 - #58
2010 - #52
2009 - #60
2008 - #57
Barnes & Noble
2012 - #53
2011 - #63
2010 - #67
2009 - #68
2008 - #66
Bass Pro Shops
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - #87
2008 - #96
Bed Bath & Beyond
2012 - #39
2011 - #39
2010 - #44
2009 - #54
2008 - #48
Belk
2012 - #91
2011 - #87
2010 - #85
2009 - #97
2008 - #87
Berkshire-Hathaway Retail
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - 94
Best Buy
2012 - #9
2011 - #9
2010 - #10
2009 - #10
2008 - #12
Big Lots
2012 - #73
2011 - #72
2010 - #70
2009 - #75
2008 - #73
BJ's Wholesale Club
2012 - #30
2011 - #31
2010 - #31
2009 - #38
2008 - #38
Blockbuster
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - #65
2008 - #64
Bon-Ton Stores
2012 - N/A
2011 - #98
2010 - #93
2009 - N/A
2008 - #92
Borders Group
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - 100
2009 - N/A
2008 - #88
Brinker International
2012 - #84
2011 - #96
2010 - #90
2009 - #93
2008 - #77
Burger King Holdings
2012 - #45
2011 - #41
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
Burlington Coat Factory
2012 - #88
2011 - #83
2010 - #82
2009 - #95
2008 - #95
Casey's General Stores
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - #77
2008 - #70
Chick-fil-A
2012 - #83
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
Circuit City
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - #32
Collective Brands
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - 98
2008 - #
Costco
2012 - #5
2011 - #6
2010 - #6
2009 - #3
2008 - #5
CVS Caremark
2012 - #7
2011 - #7
2010 - #7
2009 - #7
2008 - #3
Darden Restaurants
2012 - #50
2011 - #50
2010 - #42
2009 - #53
2008 - #63
Defense Commissary Agency
2012 - #74
2011 - #68
2010 - #57
2009 - #63
2008 - N/A
Delhaize America
2012 - #19
2011 - #18
2010 - #18
2009 - #18
2008 - #21
Dell
2012 - #77
2011 - #71
2010 - #27
2009 - #32
2008 - #56
Dick's Sporting Goods
2012 - #71
2011 - #76
2010 - #72
2009 - #82
2008 - #85
Dillard's
2012 - #66
2011 - #59
2010 - #59
2009 - #55
2008 - #44
DineEquity
2012 - #64
2011 - #60
2010 - #51
2009 - N/A
2008 - N/A
Dollar General
2012 - #28
2011 - #28
2010 - #28
2009 - #35
2008 - #35
Dollar Tree
2012 - #60
2011 - #62
2010 - #61
2009 - #76
2008 - #80
Dunkin' Brands
2012 - #63
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - N/A
Family Dollar
2012 - #44
2011 - #48
2010 - #46
2009 - #56
2008 - #51
Foot Locker
2012 - #86
2011 - #86
2010 - #83
2009 - #66
2008 - #65
Fry's Electronics
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - #99
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
GameStop
2012 - #59
2011 - #56
2010 - #56
2009 - #44
2008 - #47
Gap
2012 - #31
2011 - #30
2010 - #29
2009 - #27
2008 - #23
Giant Eagle
2012 - #58
2011 - #57
2010 - #40
2009 - #57
2008 - #42
H-E-B
2012 - #26
2011 - #27
2010 - #25
2009 - #26
2008 - #27
Harris Teeter Supermarkets
2012 - #80
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - #91
2008 - #98
Health Mart Systems
2012 - #56
2011 - N/A
2010 - N/A
2009 - N/A
2008 - N/A
Home Depot
2012 - #6
2011 - #5
2010 - #5
2009 - #4
2008 - #2
HSN (Home Shopping Network)
2012 - N/A
2011 - N/A
2010 - 96
2009 - N/A
2008 - 100
Hy-Vee
2012 - #54
2011 - #54
2010 - #54
2009 - #62
2008 - #62
IKEA North America
2012 - #95
2011 - #89
2010 - #92
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
Ingles Markets
2012 - #99
2011 - #95
2010 - #89
2009 - N/A
2008 - #
jcpenney
2012 - #23
2011 - #22
2010 - #19
2009 - #21
2008 - #18
More Top 100 Retail Comparisons >>
See also... What is the Largest Single Retail Store in the World? >>
