About Chain Store Guide

For over 80 years, Chain Store Guide (CSG) has been the leading provider of comprehensive and definitive retail and foodservice intelligence to businesses around the world.

Chain Store Guide details all major retailers, restaurants, distributors and wholesalers in the United States and Canada with contact information on over 700,000 establishments.

Chain Store Guide data is compiled by our staff of editors and research professionals. While some companies simply compile data from sources such as the Yellow Pages, Chain Store Guide researches every company profiled. Our staff contacts these companies by phone, fax, mail or email to verify information and ensure that data is accurate and current.

Chain Store Guide provides data in print directory, online web application and customized database formats. Chain Store Guide data is used by manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, brokers, real estate professionals, retailers, analysts, consultants and other professionals seeking to gain insight into retail and foodservice markets in the U.S. and Canada. Since 1934, Chain Store Guide has been the leading data source for in-depth information on retailers, restaurants, and foodservice operations.

Chain Store Guide Advantages

In-house primary research led by a tenured Editorial team and Call Center Research staff

Daily research activity capturing new companies, changes, store openings and closings

Personnel names, titles and email addresses for C level, VP level, Director level, Manager level and key staff

Over 600 unique chain and store level search options

Dedicated Account Managers and customer service team helps companies find the data they’re looking for.

Established infrastructure and methodology with an 80 year history.

Databases updated daily with new leads and changes

Broad, in-depth coverage of the retail and foodservice industries

100% complete addresses for each establishment

90% average geo-coding precision to the street address level

Phone numbers

Proprietary coding structure that identifies each store location with links to parent company and supplier

Defined industry classifications

Coverage of all major retail channels

Industry standard formats for easy importing

Experience in building and maintaining databases

Partnerships with several of the leading geospatial mapping companies

Data Collection Methodology

Chain Store Guide maintains a dedicated internal staff that closely monitors company changes, personnel changes, store openings and closings for leading retailers through primary research, direct data feeds from retailers, and various third party-sources.

Chain Store Guide’s Criteria for Inclusion by Industry

Apparel

Apparel Specialty - Companies specializing in the sale of apparel, accessories and related products. Retailers must have a minimum annual sales volume of $500,000 with the exception of children specialty stores which is $250,000. (Examples: Gap, Ross, Stein Mart). Learn more…

Department Stores

Department Store - Chain and independent companies primarily selling moderate, better and designer merchandise. Typically provides checkout service and customer assistance within each department. (Examples: Sears, Dillard's Inc.). Companies must have a minimum sales volume of $250,000. Jewelry, leather/luggage and optical retailers must operate two or more locations and generate annual sales of at least $250,000. Learn more…

Discount & Specialty

Discount & General Merchandise/Specialty Retail - Retail establishment selling a variety of merchandise for less than conventional prices. Retail companies in this category must generate at least $500,000 in annual sales. Also includes book, candy, card/gift/novelty, houseware/giftware, membership club, military exchange, office products, pet and toy retailers. (Examples: Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Godiva, Party City, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Sam's Club, AAFES, Staples, PETsMART, Toys 'R' US). Learn more…

Dollar Store - Retail companies who sell merchandise at one of the following price points: extreme value, odd-lot/close-out or single-price. Must indicate a minimum annual sales volume of $250,000. (Examples: Dollar General, Family Dollar). Learn more…

Automotive Aftermarket/Marine - Companies operating 5 or more locations specializing in the sale of automotive aftermarket products and accessories. (Examples: AutoZone, Pep Boys). Wholesale distributors must indicate annual sales of at least $100 million. Learn more…

Computer, Consumer Electronics and Music/Video - Retailers must operate at least 5 or more locations or report a minimum of $500 million in annual sales. Wholesale distributors must indicate a minimum of $900 million. (Examples: Best Buy, Verizon Wireless). Learn more…

Drug Stores

Drug Store - Companies operating two or more drug stores with annual sales of at least $250,000. Other retailers that meet the criteria for inclusion are supermarkets and mass merchandise chains that own and operate two or more pharmacies. (Examples: Walgreen Co., Longs Drug Stores Corporation, Medicine Shoppe). Learn more…

Health & Beauty Care/Cosmetic Store - Companies selling health and beauty care products and/or cosmetics, but no prescription drugs. Must operate two or more stores with annual sales of at least $250,000. (Examples: General Nutrition Inc., Bath & Body Works, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Crabtree & Evelyn). Learn more…

Grocery & Convenience

Convenience Store - A small, easy access food retailer with limited product lines. Many convenience stores also sell fast food and gasoline. (Examples: Circle C Stores Inc., Giant Industries Inc., USA Petroleum Corp., Tom Thumb Food Stores Inc.). Must operate two or more stores and generate at least $2 million in annual sales. Learn more…

Supermarket & Grocery Chains - Companies operating two or more stores whose primary business is grocery retailing and generates annual sales of at least $2 million. (Examples: Publix, Albertson's, Safeway, Kroger). Learn more…

Single Unit Supermarket - Single-unit operator whose primary business is grocery retailing and generates at least $250,000 in annual sales. (Examples: Stop & Shop Market, Palmer's Supermarket Inc., Cascade Foods Inc., Abe's Grocery). Learn more…

Wholesale Grocer - Companies selling packaged goods to supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail venues. To qualify for inclusion, a company must distribute more than one product line and no more than 95% of its wholesale grocer sales volume may be from self-manufactured merchandise. The company must have a minimum of $500,000 in sales to grocery retailers. (Examples: McLane, Associated Wholesale Grocers). Learn more…

Home & Hardware

Home Center & Hardware Chains - Companies selling wood products, a range of hardware products, and home furnishings. Companies must have an annual sales volume of at least $1 million. Hardware stores must have an annual sales volume of at least $1.5 million or operate at least two locations. (Example: Home Depot, Lowe's). Learn more…

Home Furnishings - Retailers that operate two or more stores or generate at least $10 million in annual sales from home furnishings. (Examples: Pier 1, IKEA, Rooms To Go, Haverty Furniture Companies Inc.). Learn more…

Real Estate-Other

Leading Chain Tenants - All restaurants and retailers found in the other Chain Store Guide databases and directories with five or more stores. Learn more...

Leading Chain Miscellaneous - Companies that operates 5 or more locations and business classification falls outside of CSG's traditional retail markets. (Examples: Amscot, Fantastic Sams). *These companies are included in Leading Chain Tenants along with the other top retailers and restaurant chains that are included in other databases and directories. Learn more…

High Volume Independent Drug - Single-unit, retail drug stores with pharmacy departments and sales of $500,000 or more. (Examples: Doctor's Center Pharmacy, Volume Drugs, Powell's Pharmacy Inc.). *These retailers are only available as store locations. Learn more…

Restaurant

Chain Restaurant Operators - Company must generate at least $1 million in annual foodservice sales, either systemwide or corporate and operate two or more units. Hotel/Motel companies must control two or more foodservice operations. (Example: McDonald's, Starbucks, Darden Restaurants). Learn more…

Foodservice Distributor - Companies selling food, equipment and/or supplies to restaurants and other foodservice venues. The company must have a minimum of $500,000 in sales to foodservice companies and no more than 95% of its foodservice distribution sales volume may be from self-manufactured merchandise. (Examples: SYSCO, US Foodservice). Learn more…

High Volume Independent Restaurant - Full-service, single-unit restaurant operator that has at least $1 million in annual sales. (Examples: Charlie's Bar & Grill, Big Rock Chop House, Waldo's Pizza, The Great Greek). Learn more…

For additional questions about Chain Store Guide or to speak with an Account Manager call 1-800-778-9794.