Analysis
NAICS 424490 is the 2022 national industry for other grocery and related products merchant wholesalers, part of 42449 (Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 80 example activities under it in the official index.
Census lists 12 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 4245, 4248, 312111 and 424410. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
County Business Patterns counts 14,991 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 342,514 people at an average annual payroll of $66,413 per employee (46th percentile of national industries). 52% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include baby foods, canned, merchant wholesalers, bakery products (except frozen) merchant wholesalers, beans, dry edible, merchant wholesalers and beverage bases merchant wholesalers, among 80 in all.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of grains, field beans, livestock, and other farm product raw materials are classified in 4245 (Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of groceries and related products (except a general line of groceries; packaged frozen food; dairy products (except dried and canned); poultry products (except canned); confectioneries; fish and seafood (except canned); meat products (except canned); and fresh fruits and vegetables). Included in this industry are establishments primarily engaged in the bottling and merchant wholesale distribution of spring and mineral waters processed by others.
Illustrative Examples:
Bakery products (except frozen) merchant wholesalers Canned seafood merchant wholesalers Canned fish merchant wholesalers Canned vegetables merchant wholesalers Canned fruits merchant wholesalers Dried milk merchant wholesalers Canned meats merchant wholesalers Soft drinks merchant wholesalers Canned milk merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of grains, field beans, livestock, and other farm product raw materials | 4245 Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages | 4248 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers |
| Manufacturing and bottling soft drinks | 312111 Soft Drink Manufacturing |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of a general line of groceries | 424410 General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of packaged frozen foods (except dairy) | 424420 Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of dairy products | 424430 Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of poultry and poultry products (except canned and packaged frozen) | 424440 Poultry and Poultry Product Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of confectioneries; salted or roasted nuts; popcorn; potato, corn, and similar chips; and/or fountain fruits and syrups | 424450 Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of fish and seafood (except canned and packaged frozen) | 424460 Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of meats (except canned and packaged frozen) | 424470 Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables | 424480 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers |
| Purifying and bottling water | 312112 Bottled Water Manufacturing |
Index entries (80)
- Baby foods, canned, merchant wholesalers
- Bakery products (except frozen) merchant wholesalers
- Beans, dry edible, merchant wholesalers
- Beverage bases merchant wholesalers
- Beverage concentrates merchant wholesalers
- Bottled water (except water treating) merchant wholesalers
- Bread, packaged (except frozen), merchant wholesalers
- Breakfast cereals merchant wholesalers
- Brewers' yeast merchant wholesalers
- Butter substitutes merchant wholesalers
- Cane sugar, refined, merchant wholesalers
- Canned foods (e.g., fish, meat, seafood, soups) merchant wholesalers
- Carbonated beverages merchant wholesalers
- Cereal products merchant wholesalers
- Cheese, imitation or substitute, merchant wholesalers
- Chocolate (except candy) merchant wholesalers
- Chocolate coatings merchant wholesalers
- Chocolate syrups (except fountain) merchant wholesalers
- Coffee merchant wholesalers
- Cookies merchant wholesalers
- Cooking oils merchant wholesalers
- Corn milling products (except pet and livestock feeds) merchant wholesalers
- Cornmeal, edible, merchant wholesalers
- Crackers merchant wholesalers
- Creamery products, canned, merchant wholesalers
- Dairy products, dried or canned, merchant wholesalers
- Dessert powders merchant wholesalers
- Dried foods (e.g., fruits, milk, vegetables) merchant wholesalers
- Egg substitutes merchant wholesalers
- Fish, canned, merchant wholesalers
- Flavoring extracts (except for fountain use) merchant wholesalers
- Flour merchant wholesalers
- Fruits, canned, merchant wholesalers
- Gelatin, edible, merchant wholesalers
- Health foods (except fresh fruits, vegetables) merchant wholesalers
- Honey merchant wholesalers
- Hop extract merchant wholesalers
- Ice cream cones merchant wholesalers
- Jellies and jams merchant wholesalers
- Juices, canned or fresh, merchant wholesalers