NFM Staff

July 1, 2016

2 Min Read
Market Overview: Universe of natural products retail [chart]

The 2016 edition of Natural Foods Merchandiser’s Market Overview represents the 36th year the magazine has presented statistics on store operations and the state of the natural products industry. From $1.9 billion in 1980 to $52 billion in 2015, sales in the natural products retail channels have come a long way.

The charts below outlines the natural channel universe. Reported sales might not match public company reported earnings due to non-nutrition sales including conventional products. Find all 2016 Market Overview charts here.

Universe of stores

Independents & small chains

Store size

No. of stores

Nutrition sales (M)**

% of sales

Natural products store

<=3,000 sq. ft.

         1,320

         1,650

3.2%

Natural products store

3,001-6,000 sq. ft.

         1,163

         4,009

7.7%

Natural food supermarket

>6,000 sq. ft.

         2,218

       14,594

28.0%

Health food store

<=2,000 sq. ft.

         1,754

         1,312

2.5%

Health food store

>2,000 sq. ft. 

         2,009

         4,788

9.2%

Supplement store

<=1,200 sq. ft.

            835

            756

1.4%

Supplement store

>1,200 sq. ft.

            994

         1,465

2.8%

Total independents

 

   10,293

   28,574

54.8%

 

 

 

 

 

Whole Foods

 

            415

       15,065

28.9%

GNC

 

         4,456

         1,715

3.3%

Vitamin World (NBTY)

 

            378

            204

0.4%

Vitamin Shoppe

 

            755

         1,076

2.1%

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

            107

            647

1.2%

Sprouts

 

            217

         2,661

5.1%

The Fresh Market

 

            184

            929

1.8%

Other*

 

       16,156

         1,280

2.5%

Total Independents & specialty

   32,962

   52,150

100.0%

See our methodology here.

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