Shufersal Leads Israel's Supermarket Landscape Ahead of Holiday Rush

As Israelis prepare for the High Holidays, a new analysis by geographic data company Points reveals Shufersal as the dominant supermarket chain in Israel. With 327 branches, Shufersal holds 19.6% of the market, more than double that of second-place Carrefour, which has 150 stores. Rami Levy Chain Stores is third with 102 branches. Together, these three major chains account for approximately 35% of all supermarket branches nationwide.

Shufersal's extensive reach is particularly advantageous during the busy holiday season, with significant presence in major cities: 24 branches in Tel Aviv-Yafo, 23 in Haifa, 22 in Jerusalem, and 11 in Be'er Sheva. Tel Aviv-Yafo boasts the highest concentration of supermarket branches overall, with 178 stores, translating to 0.79 branches per 1,000 households. Jerusalem follows with 130 branches, or 0.45 per 1,000 households, indicating a 74% higher density in Tel Aviv.

The analysis also highlights intense competition in specific areas. Tel Aviv's Florentin neighborhood has about 1.16 branches per 1,000 households, while the Ganei Sharona area has a remarkable 2.26. Outside Tel Aviv, Givatayim's Tal Gan neighborhood leads with approximately 1.62 branches per 1,000 households. The Sharon region also shows high competition, with Kfar Saba leading in density at 0.93 branches per 1,000 households.

In the past year, the number of supermarket branches in Israel grew by 1.7% to a total of 1,667. This includes 59 new openings versus 31 closures. City Market led in expansion with 8 new stores and only one closure, while Rami Levy and other specialized chains also saw growth. Tel Aviv, however, experienced a slight net decrease with 3 openings and 4 closures.