The anticipation for Maine's first Costco has been building for more than a year. The massive warehouse chain is one of the world's largest retailers, which makes its debut it Maine an actual event.

Costco Posts Strong Quarterly Earnings
Getty Images
loading...

According to the National Retail Federation, the five largest retailers in the world are Walmart, Amazon, Costco, the Home Depot, and one other chain that is conspicously absent from the Pine Tree State. That chain? Kroger.

For many in the northeast, Kroger is something they've heard of but don't know much about, other than that it's a grocery store chain. That much is true. Kroger currently operates more than 2,700 grocery stores in 35 states across the country.

Supermarket Chain Kroger Post Strong Quarterly Earnings
Getty Images
loading...

But there are other reasons Kroger has become one of the most prolific and profitable chains worldwide. According to Sporked, Kroger is credited with being the innovator of product testing. Kroger is also considered the pioneer of having an in-house bakery in their grocery stores. And because of their large footprint, Kroger is considered to be the largest florist in the world.

The misnomer is that Kroger is simply a grocery chain. They are not. Kroger currently operates 134 multi-department stores across the country. Those stores could include everything from jewelry stores to in-house medical clinics.

Retail Report Shows Consumer Spent More On Goods In June
Getty Images
loading...

Kroger also operates nearly 1,000 gas stations and convenience stores across the country. Their latest venture is warehouse stores, similar to Sam's Club, BJ's, and of course, Costco.

Top Grocery Retailer Kroger To Acquire Rival Albertsons For $24.6 Billion
Getty Images
loading...

So will Kroger ever make its way to Maine? More than likely, yes. The massive retailer is finishing up a merger with another major retailer, Albertsons, in 2024. That should give Kroger the footprint to begin an aggressive move into the northeast.


LOOK: These Are the 50 biggest retailers in America

Stacker compiled a list of the 50 biggest retailers in the country, using retail sales data from Kantar, provided by the National Retail Federation.

Gallery Credit: Madison Troyer & Zack Abrams

Read More: Stores That Used to Be at the Maine Mall

Here are some stores that used to exist at the Maine Mall in South Portland but now are there no longer.

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

More From WWMJ Ellsworth Maine