The dramatic shift of retail to the online environment will result in Amazon passing Walmart to become the largest retailer in the U.S. — adding more than $294 billion in U.S. sales between 2021 and 2026, according to a report released Wednesday. It’s just the latest sign for marketers of what’s ahead for the retailers they serve.

Edge By Ascential’s annual 2022 United States Retail Landscape and Go-to-Market Planning Report predicts online will account for more than 30% of the U.S. chain retail sales by 2026, and Amazon will take 14.9% U.S. retail market share by that year, reports MediaPost.

Walmart will take 12.7% in retail sales by 2026, and Costco will rise from 3.8% in 2021 to 4.4%, becoming the top second and third U.S. retailers that year.

Home Depot will become the fourth-largest retailer in the U.S., with a market share increase from 3.7% in 2021 to 3.9% by 2026.

In 2021, the top-five U.S. retailers were Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, Costco and The Home Depot.

Online grocery sales will add $34.7 billion in U.S. sales between 2021 and 2026. In 2021, online edible grocery sales in the U.S. reached $54.8 billion, up 117% from 2019.

Online edible grocery in the U.S. in 2021 stood at 6.5%, with about 50% of that attributed to Walmart, Target, Kroger and Costco — all of which accelerated their edible grocery ecommerce presence and capability during the pandemic years.

More here.