Analysis
NAICS 4451 is the 2022 industry group for grocery and convenience retailers, part of 445 (Food and Beverage Retailers). Census lists 8 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 99,939 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 2,974,201 people at an average annual payroll of $29,496 per employee (3rd percentile of national industries). 47% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 3 codes at this level within Food and Beverage Retailers, with 62.3% of them.
Across its national industries Census lists 8 index entries; typical ones are commissaries, primarily groceries, convenience food stores (except those with fuel pumps) and automatic merchandising machine operators.
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 44511 (Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers)) with 62,947.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 7% and employment rose 8%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing a general line of food products. This industry group also includes vending machine operators.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (8)
- Commissaries, primarily groceries
- Convenience food stores (except those with fuel pumps)
- Automatic merchandising machine operators