Kroger and Target both have become common household names in America. But if you have ever wondered which provides the best service then this article is exactly for you. So, Kroger Vs Target – which is better?
If you want to buy different items from a single store at an affordable cost, Target can be your best choice. It sells not only beauty and household essentials but also groceries even if to a small scale. However, if you want to buy only premium quality groceries, you should visit Kroger.
In this article, I am going to talk about Kroger and Target. I will compare these two retailer stores so that you can understand which one is right for you.
Difference Between Kroger and Target
Kroger and target both have some noticeable differences. Which is better basically depends on what you’re planning to buy, how much you are willing to spend and stuff like that as they both have their specialties. But there are some comparable differences between the two.
Number of Stores
Compared to Target, Kroger has been in the market for a long time. In 1883, Bernard Kroger founded Kroger in Cincinnati. Ohio. Today, its headquarters is in downtown Cincinnati. There are 2,764 supermarkets and multi-department stores as of November 2020 under The Kroger Company.
Kroger has these stores in 42 states, and most of them are in California. In 2019, Kroger has been named the largest supermarket in terms of revenue ($121.16 billion in 2019). However, the revenue of Kroger came down to $109.8 billion in 2020.
On the other hand, Target is the 8th largest retailer in the United States. The company was founded in 1962 as a part of Dayton’s Company Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the 1980s, Target opened new stores all over the country. It was still partnered with Dayton’s Company back then.
However, the Target brand was introduced during the 1990s, and it became famous as a ‘cheap-chic player’ in the market. After a decade, in 2000, the parent company changed its name to Target Corporation.
According to recent estimation, Target has 1,897 stores in the United States. In terms of total revenue, the company is behind Kruger. But the revenue of the company is increasing every year. So, the company is performing well. The stores of Target are located mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Therefore, you will not find Target stores outside these areas.
Grocery Department
In terms of quality and range of organic produce, Kroger is definitely better than Target. You can buy all your necessary groceries from Kroger. The racks of Kroger stores are filled with products from different brands and local retailers. The stores sell fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Meat, wine, and cereal are also popular items sold at Kroger stores.
On the contrary, you will not find this much variety in Target. But it does not mean that you cannot get all the groceries from Target. Although there are not too many food brands or special items at Target, you will find the major categories of groceries here. As the focus of the company is not on selling groceries, they keep the grocery department small.
However, there is an exception. Super Target, which operates under The Target Company, has much spacious space for grocery products. These stores are trying to bring more varieties than their usual stores.
For example, compared to other typical grocery stores, Target stores sell little meat. Moreover, the quality of the meat is also not so good. In terms of quality meat, Kroger is the best. It sells organic and traditional cuts, which are praised for high quality.
Product Costs
Foods like meat, seafood, and produce (vegetables and fruits) are comparatively expensive in Kroger. Target sells these groceries at a cheap price. However, the quality of produce is much higher in quality in Kroger than Target. So, people may buy gallons of milk from Target, but they will not buy weekly or monthly groceries from there.
However, the price of meat is cheap in Kroger, and the quality is also great. The meat is in better condition than the meat of ALDI and Walmart. Thus, Kruger has become the largest grocery retailer in the United States. Target stores do not sell a lot of meats, and the meats are expensive.
Delivery Service
Both superstores have great delivery service and user-friendly mobile apps. You can order goods from Kroger stores online or using their mobile app. Kroger uses Instacart to deliver goods at the doorsteps of their customers.
You have to provide all the information in the app and then set the time you want the products to be delivered. If any item is out of stock, the store will inform you and offer you similar products. You can browse all the products online and order foods and other products at your preferred location.
The delivery men will deliver the order according to the time you have set. And most times, they deliver within an hour. For this service, Kroger will charge $9.95. People can also get free delivery service when they shop for more than $35. They ensure the best quality products and safe packaging.
Target also provides a similar delivery service. However, the online service of Target is fairly recent. You can now directly order through the mobile app. Then pick up the order either from any selected Target store or curbside. You can also choose their home delivery service and get the items at your doorstep.
Target uses Shipt to deliver their products. When you place an order, you can get them on the same day. Or, you can set a date and time according to your choice. Like Kroger, Target will also inform you when any product is not available, you will get a text asking if you want any substitute or not.
Same day delivery charge is $9.99 per order, and customers who are members of the Shipt shopping app can get free delivery service.
Associated Brands
Both Kroger and Target are associated with famous brands and private levels. Kroger has been producing its foods since 1883, and they are quite successful in the market. It is associated with 16 top brands, and it sells 1,500 items of private labels. Kroger has a partnership with mostly natural and organic brands and private labels.
The Kroger Co. Family of Stores includes brands and private labels like Baker’s, Fred Meyers, Harris Teeter, Ralphs, and many others. You can see that Kroger’s private labels and brands are mostly homegrown. Kroger also owns brands/private labels like Work Office and HD Designs. These labels are best known for home electronic items and home decors.
Target has 45 private labels or in their words, “owned brands” and sells thousands of items in the stores. The stores also sell national brand products, which makes the stores one-stop shopping destinations for many people. Target may not be great for grocery shopping, but the price of the foods is cheap. So, it has customers for food products as well.
However, Target is popular for selling designer clothes, apparel, home decors, and electronics. From door mates to scented candles, you can buy anything from Target. And there is an enormous collection of items to choose from. The private labels of clothing have turned out to be one of the most profitable businesses for Target.
For example, the children’s clothing line, Cat and Jack, has earned two billion in just one year of starting. And then there are brands like Stars Above that have stylish and comfortable sleeping wear for women. Also, the brand Shade and Shore has become famous for swimsuits and bikinis of various sizes.
Target is popular among people because it sells stylish and convenient products at affordable prices. On the other hand, you will not find a similar range and price of products at any stores of Kroger. So, Kroger falls behind Target in terms of selling different products.
In Store Experience
Kroger stores are clean, nice, and cozy. It is decorated nicely, and the products are arranged systematically so that customers can find them easily. There is no doubt that Kroger has a pleasant shopping atmosphere. But Target is one step ahead regarding store decoration and design.
Many people admit that shopping at Target is very addictive and fun. The stores strategically arrange the products so that the customers stay longer and buy more products. So many people end up buying more things than they intended to.
The stores have bright and colorful lights. The aisles are wide and the products are wisely arranged. All strategies create such a comfortable and enjoyable environment that people, especially young adults, and teenagers love to shop at Target.
Which One Is More Convenient?
Kroger has nearly 2,800 stores, and Target has about 1,900 stores. So, Kroger covers more areas than Target. In fact, you will not find any Target stores outside urban areas. Although The Target Company has been planning to open stores outside cities, the process is still going on.
Both Kroger and Target have operational hours. Kruger starts business at 6 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., or even midnight based on the location and demand.
Target begins business at 7 a.m. and closes at midnight. As you can see, none of the stores provide 24-hour services like Walmart or some other grocery stores.
So, Kroger vs. Target, which one do you think is better? As you can see, both stores have good sides. You have to choose the right superstore according to your need. Therefore, if you like to buy organic and natural groceries, go to Kroger. But you must visit Target when you need to save time and shop for other items besides groceries.
