LIMITED ASSORTMENT STORES: Sales + 4.1% in 2013

Sales from limited-assortment stores such as Save-A-Lot, Aldi, and Trader Joe's, grew 4.1% in 2013 to $31.1bn.

The leading retailer in this space with more than 1,000 stores in 31 states, Aldi is adding 650 new stores in the next five years.

Aldi stores carry about 1,400 regularly stocked items, from fresh produce and meat to everyday essentials like bread and peanut butter, 95% of which are sold under exclusive ALDI private labels. 

Trader Joe’s 2013 sales were estimated to be up 7.6% to $11.3bn (Supermarket News data), from 411 stores in 38 states, with its largest concentration of stores (40%) in California, according to a recent Packaged Facts report (click HERE​).

The chain  - which is owned by a family trust set up by Theo Albrecht, one of the brothers behind Aldi -  typically carries fewer than 4,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) in stores that typically measure just 8-12,000sq ft.