NPD Reveals Top Businesses Among Consumers

Chick-fil-A and Dollar Tree were also the biggest gainers among retailers and restaurants.

At least 84 percent of U.S. consumers bought products from Walmart, McDonald’s and Target in 2016, according to The NPD Group’s Checkout Tracking index.

The Checkout Penetration Index is based on millions of receipts from actual consumers across all retailers and restaurants, both in-store and online. The index is also based on one question: “What percentage of all U.S. consumers bought at each store or restaurant?”

Rounding out the top five companies are Walgreens at No. 4 with 77 percent and Dollar Tree at No. 5 with 71 percent.

Furthermore, according to the Index, Dollar Tree was the biggest gainer among retailers with a 3 percent increase in penetration in 2015. Among restaurants, Chick-fil-A was the biggest gainer with a 5 percent increase.

“The battle for every consumer dollar is heating up, and we must shift from studying what consumers purchase to how they spend their money,” say Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst, The NPD Group. “Consumers spending on experiences is overlapping with their purchases of products, making every item and visit so important to competing in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.”

Top 25 Retailers and Restaurants in 2016

• Walmart – 95 percent
• McDonald’s – 89 percent
• Target – 84 percent
• Walgreens – 77 percent
• Dollar Tree – 71 percent
• Subway – 70 percent
• CVS – 69 percent
• Home Depot – 68 percent
• Taco Bell – 62 percent
• Burger King – 60 percent
• Lowe’s – 59 percent
• Wendy’s – 58 percent
• Shell – 57 percent
• Starbucks – 48 percent
• Kohl’s – 48 percent
• Chick-fil-A – 47 percent
• Dollar General – 44 percent
• KFC – 43 percent
• Amazon – 42 percent
• Dunkin’ Donuts – 42 percent
• Best Buy – 40 percent
• Sam’s Club – 39 percent
• 7-Eleven – 38 percent
• Michaels Stores – 38 percent
• Panera Bread – 38 percent