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Comment by gfdsgfsdgfs | Hacker News Reader

What percentage of areas are only served by Walmart or Kroger? Please give your citation. Name some of these "many areas".

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"In 43 metropolitan areas and 160 smaller markets, Walmart captures 50 percent or more of grocery sales. In 38 of these regions, Walmart’s share of the grocery market is 70 percent or more."

https://ilsr.org/walmarts-monopolization-of-local-grocery-ma...

I could list off every one of these areas, but would probably run into the character count limit

This is such an awful argument. Because a company captures 50% of sales in an area does not mean that it has a monopoly and that there is only 1 grocer in the area. Your source is also not very reliable. List one area where Walmart has a monopoly and the only grocer in town.

You have continually been provided sources and then brushed them off. If those didn’t pique your curiosity to look into it more, and there are more Google results for “Walmart monopoly”, nothing will. Just admit you have an axe to grind and that you won’t change your mind and move on.

> List one area where Walmart has a monopoly and the only grocer in town.

I'd recommend you do some reading to understand the definition of a monopoly, as it pertains to pricing power: https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/gui...

A business doesn't need to be the literal only option for it to have monopolistic power over a market.

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act uses 50% market share as a general criteria for when a business could have monopoly power in a market. Based on that definition, here's an answer for your

> List one area where Walmart has a monopoly

Check out the table in the back of the source I linked, and you'll find 203 of them!

This is not a hard thing to research: https://www.foodpolitics.com/2021/07/americas-food-monopolie....

That says 4 companies control 65% of the retail market. That is not a monopoly and there are many other grocers that consumers can shop at, like Amazon, Whole Foods, Safeway. Trader Joe's or the many other regional specialty ones.

It's also beyond just the stores - up to 80% of items in grocery stores are made by just a few companies.

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