NAICS 424490

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for organizing establishments to produce consistent statistics on the U.S. business economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and first adopted in 1997, it is revised every five years; the current vintage is 2022 and is harmonized with Canada and Mexico for cross-country comparability. ¹

NAICS 424490 covers merchant wholesalers primarily engaged in distributing groceries and related products not elsewhere classified within more specific grocery wholesale industries. Examples include canned and other shelf-stable foods, soft drinks, nonfrozen bakery products, and bottling/wholesaling of spring and mineral waters processed by others. It excludes general line groceries, packaged frozen foods, most fresh/perishable categories, and many specialty foods that have their own industries. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 424490 overview
• G2X — NAICS 424410 General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers
• G2X — NAICS 424480 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers

What this NAICS covers

• Distribution of canned grocery products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and milk. ²
• Wholesaling of dried milk and other shelf-stable dairy products (excludes non-canned, non-dried dairy). ²
• Soft drink wholesaling. ²
• Bottling and wholesaling spring and mineral waters processed by others (not water manufacturing). ²
• Nonfrozen bakery product wholesaling (e.g., bread, pastries). ²
• Other grocery-related items not classified under specialized industries (e.g., confectionery, meat, fish, dairy—when those products are canned; otherwise see their specific industries). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Scope notes and cross-references

• Excludes general line groceries; classify in 424410. ²
• Excludes packaged frozen foods; classify in 424420. ²
• Excludes non-canned, non-dried dairy products; classify in 424430. ²
• Excludes poultry products (except canned); classify in 424440. ²
• Excludes confectionery (except when canned); classify in 424450. ²
• Excludes fish and seafood (except canned); classify in 424460. ²
• Excludes meat products (except canned); classify in 424470. ²
• Excludes fresh fruits and vegetables; classify in 424480. ²

Federal data touchpoints for this industry

• Annual Wholesale Trade Survey publishes national estimates at the 2- through 4-digit NAICS levels, which include the Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers subsector 4244; industry 424490 contributes to these aggregates. ³
• The 2022 Economic Census releases statistics on a 2022 NAICS basis for Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade), enabling geographic and industry-level analysis of grocery wholesalers. ⁵

Frequently asked questions

• What types of products are commonly included under NAICS 424490? Canned foods (fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, milk), shelf-stable dairy (e.g., dried milk), nonfrozen bakery goods, soft drinks, and bottling/wholesaling of spring and mineral water processed by others. Fresh, unfrozen perishables and many specialty lines are classified elsewhere. ²

• Are fresh produce and frozen foods part of 424490? No. Fresh fruits and vegetables are classified in 424480, and packaged frozen foods are in 424420. Non-canned, non-dried dairy belongs in 424430. Canned forms of these products generally fall within 424490. ²

• Does 424490 include water bottling and soft drink distribution? Yes. Merchants that bottle and wholesale spring or mineral waters processed by others are included, as are soft drink merchant wholesalers. Beverage manufacturing (e.g., producing water or soft drinks) is outside the scope of NAICS 424490. ²

• Where are official statistics for grocery wholesalers published? The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey provides national estimates for the grocery and related products subsector, and the Economic Census publishes detailed industry and geographic tables. These sources cover activities in NAICS 4244 and 424490. ³

• Did NAICS 424490 change in the 2022 NAICS update? Not specified by official sources ⁴.

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 424490 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. ⁴
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (Economic Census data access). ⁵
• U.S. Census Bureau — Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) 2022 tip sheet. ³
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 Economic Census guidance). ⁶

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry: NAICS history and vintages (1997–2022). https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS definition: 424490 Other Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=424490&year=2022&details=424490
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) tip sheet. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and overview). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (Economic Census data tables). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html
6. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/guidance/understanding-naics.html