Inventory Turnover › Grocery
Grocery Inventory Turnover Benchmarks 2026
Conventional US grocers run 12x to 16x inventory turnover. Kroger leads the named set near 16x on a lean LIFO inventory base. Perishables shorten the cycle; centre-store dry goods sit longer.
Named retailer 10-K data
| Retailer | Fiscal Year | Turnover | COGS | Avg Inventory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kroger(KR) | FY25 (ended Jan 2026) | 16.3x | $113.2B | $6.97B |
| Albertsons(ACI) | FY25 (ended Feb 2026) | 11.9x | $60.6B | $5.08B |
| Sprouts Farmers Market(SFM) | FY25 (ended Dec 2025) | 14.0x | $5.39B | $0.385B |
| Weis Markets(WMK) | FY25 (ended Dec 2025) | 12.8x | $3.72B | $0.290B |
Per-retailer notes
Kroger (KR)
16.3x turnoverLargest pure-play US grocer. Perishables drive a 16x base; fresh categories cycle in days, not weeks. Inventory shown net of the LIFO reserve (FIFO inventory $9.45B less a $2.55B LIFO reserve).
Source: Kroger 10-K, fiscal 2025
Albertsons (ACI)
11.9x turnoverMulti-banner grocer (Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco). Carries more inventory per dollar of sales than Kroger, so turns a few points slower.
Source: Albertsons 10-K, fiscal 2025
Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM)
14.0x turnoverSpecialty produce-led format. Higher perishable share keeps turnover in line with conventional supermarkets despite a lean SKU count. Sharp FY25 sales growth pulled in a larger inventory build, easing turnover a touch from FY24.
Source: Sprouts 10-K, fiscal 2025
Weis Markets (WMK)
12.8x turnoverRegional Mid-Atlantic grocer. Cost of sales includes warehousing and distribution, so the ratio runs a touch below the largest peers. COGS derived from net sales less reported gross profit.
Source: Weis Markets 10-K, fiscal 2025
Within-store category breakdown
Grocery is not monolithic. A typical conventional supermarket carries 30,000 to 50,000 SKUs across categories that cycle at very different speeds. The blended store turnover (~12x) masks a wide internal range.
| Category | Typical Turnover | Days on Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh produce | 52-104x | 3-7 |
| Fresh meat / seafood | 73-104x | 3-5 |
| Dairy | 36-52x | 7-10 |
| Bakery (in-store) | 120x+ | 1-3 |
| Centre store dry grocery | 12-18x | 20-30 |
| Frozen | 10-15x | 24-36 |
| Health and beauty / general merch | 4-8x | 45-90 |
Category ranges derived from operator presentations and FMI / NACS retail benchmarks. FMI supermarket facts.
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