For decades — from the 1930s until the 1980s — the U.S. grocery industry was remarkably competitive, with independent grocers thriving alongside large chains like Kroger and Safeway. Independent stores consistently accounted for more than 50 percent of grocery sales throughout this period. Meanwhile the four largest chains collectively captured only about 20 percent of the market.
This rich diversity served communities and consumers well. Virtually every neighborhood and small town had a grocery store, and many had several.
Then, in the early 1980s, the government stopped enforcing the Robinson-Patman Act, a critical antitrust law that prohibits price discrimination by suppliers. The consequences were swift and far-reaching: independent grocers declined rapidly and a few large retailers gained dominance. Food deserts and higher prices followed.
New data from ILSR highlights the direct link between the decline in Robinson-Patman enforcement and the collapse of independent grocers — a clear example of how policy decisions shape our communities and everyday lives.
Download the graph and timeline of events
Related: Since 1982, the market share of independent retailers has fallen from 53 percent to 22 percent, according to our analysis of U.S. Census data.
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