The chief executives of the biggest publicly traded food retailers in the U.S. all earned multimillion-dollar compensation packages last year, with Walmart’s CEO taking home the most.
What happened
2024 was another highly remunerative year for the chief executives of the nation’s publicly traded grocery retailers.
The majority of CEOs in a group of 11 food retailers tracked by Grocery Dive pocketed pay packages last year that were comparable to the compensation they received in 2023, although there were a couple of notable exceptions. But even CEOs whose earnings decreased last year brought home multimillion-dollar financial packages, with the top executives of some smaller companies earning especially hefty sums.
Why it matters
As in prior years, CEOs of the biggest grocery retailers received the most sumptuous paychecks in 2024. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon again topped the list, recording compensation of about $27.4 million, or about 1.5% more than he earned last year. Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, saw his pay rise more than 6%, surpassing $20 million — even as the retailer’s stock price finished the year about where it started.
In an especially notable jump, Sprouts Farmers Market CEO Jack Sinclair saw his pay package rocket ahead by nearly $3 million in 2024, to $12.2 million, as the specialty retailer he helms turned in a stellar year that saw its share price triple. On the other hand, SpartanNash’s CEO’s pay dropped by 30% last year, a period when the grocery retailer and wholesaler’s stock market value also sagged.
Meanwhile, Rodney McMullen and Vivek Sankaran, the now-former CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons, respectively, both again earned more than $15 million in 2024 despite the high-profile flameout in December of their companies’ controversial plan to merge. Both executives left their roles early in 2025, with the circumstances surrounding McMullen’s departure still unexplained.
This news brief is based on reporting published by Grocery Dive on 2025-08-20. The original report is linked below.
Grocery Dive
https://www.grocerydive.com/news/ceo-compensation-2024-grocery-supermarkets-retail/758096/This independent news brief is based on the public source identified above. It is an original summary or translation, not a reproduction of the source article. Rights in source text, research, trademarks and images remain with their respective owners; images are used under the licence or permission identified in the credit. Rights holders may contact rights@goodproductasia.com with evidence of ownership. Verified concerns will be corrected, replaced or removed promptly. This report is not investment, legal, medical or purchasing advice.
