Walmart and Kroger in dead heat…

Two of the nation’s largest retailers shared the No. 1 position in a ranking of the top U.S. retailers.



Walmart and Kroger Co. tied for first place (in the overall composite score) in Kantar Retail’s 2016 Retailer PoweRanking. The ranking is designed to identify the retailers currently setting the highest standards of performance as viewed by their trading partners, and to gain insight into what makes these retailers "best in class."



While Walmart’s long-standing dominance among U.S. retailers now has a formidable challenger in the overall composite score, the discounter continues to outrank all other retailers in the areas of clear strategy and supply chain management.



A major factor in Kroger’s performance this year, according to Kantar, was its ability to innovate and maximize the shopper experience by applying insights derived from both suppliers and its own shopper insights firm, 84.51. Manufacturers voted Kroger No. 1 in the categories of “best retailer to do business with,” “best buying teams,” “most innovative merchandising,” and “best practice category leadership.”



In addition to being tied for the overall No. 1 position, Kroger ranked first in the following categories: "best retailer to do business with," best practice category leadership," "best buying teams," and "most innovative merchandising."



The company also tied for first in the "clearest strategy" category.



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