By Susan Thurston, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 13, 2012
Central Florida market share
Publix
42.9%
Walmart
26.3%
Winn-Dixie
10.1%
Sweetbay
6.3%
Super Target
3.2%
Save-A-Lot
2.9%
AG Florida*
2.4%
Aldi
1.1%
*Wholesaler
It hardly seems like a fair fight. • Walmart, the world's largest retailer, with 10,130 stores in 27 countries, vs. Publix, a regional grocery chain, with 1,053 stores in five states. • Yet here they are, duking it out for a bigger piece of the grocery market pie. Win, lose or draw depends on factors big and small, from the economy to the freshness of ground beef. • Ultimately, industry observers say, both may emerge victors, leaving smaller chains like Sweetbay and Winn-Dixie to fight for the scraps. • Walmart upped the smack talk in a recent ad campaign that challenges Publix customers to compare prices at Walmart ...