About .grocery domain
.grocery is a proposed generic top-level domain (gTLD) that has not yet been delegated. It was part of ICANN's New gTLD Program, with applications submitted by major retail corporations. The application process attracted formal objections regarding its exclusive nature as a common generic string. As of the source material, the TLD remains in a proposed state and is not an active, registrable product.
Who can register .grocery domain
This TLD is a brand TLD and would be exclusively operated by the successful applicant, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Registration would not be open to the public. Domains under .grocery would be allocated solely for the registry operator's own use or for its approved partners and affiliates. There are no public registration eligibility criteria, as it is intended as a closed, corporate namespace.
How to register .grocery domain
As a proposed and undelegated brand TLD, .grocery is not available through any commercial registration process. Allocation would be managed entirely by the registry operator, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., for its internal purposes. Any future use would involve the company registering and using domains directly, not through a public registrar marketplace. There is no standard public registration or checkout flow for this extension.
Typical uses of .grocery domain
If delegated, the .grocery extension would be a closed namespace used by the registry operator, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and potentially its affiliates. Its primary use would be for corporate branding, specific marketing campaigns, or secure internal services related to the company's grocery retail operations. It would not be available for general registration by other businesses or individuals in the grocery sector, distinguishing it from open generic TLDs.
Tips for registering .grocery domain
- This TLD is not currently active or available for registration by any party.
- As a brand TLD application, its future delegation and any potential use would be controlled exclusively by the corporate applicant.
- The application received a GAC Early Warning citing potential negative impact on competition, which may influence its ultimate delegation status.
Frequently asked questions about .grocery domain
Who operates .grocery domain?
The registry for .grocery domains is Wal-Mart Stores, administered by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc..
Who can register a .grocery domain?
Registration is not available to the public. .grocery is applied for as a brand TLD, meaning the sole applicant, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., would have exclusive control over the entire namespace. Any domains created would be for the company's internal use or for entities it explicitly authorizes. There is no path for independent third parties to register a .grocery domain.
Can I transfer a .grocery domain between registrars?
As the TLD is not delegated and has no public registration, standard inter-registrar transfer policies do not apply. If the TLD were ever activated as a closed brand registry, domain management and any potential transfers between entities would be governed by the registry operator's internal policies, not by the typical transfer procedures used for open gTLDs like .com.
What was the GAC Early Warning for .grocery?
The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) issued an Early Warning for the .grocery applications. The warning stated that granting exclusive access to a common generic string for a broad market sector could have unintended consequences and a negative impact on competition. This warning represented a strong recommendation from governments that the application should be denied in its then-current form.
Could .grocery ever become available for public registration?
It is highly unlikely. The application is for a brand TLD, which is designed as a closed registry for the sole use of the applying entity. Changing this fundamental structure would require a significant change in the application and likely new agreements with ICANN. The competitive concerns raised in the GAC Early Warning further support the expectation that it would remain a restricted namespace.
What happens to a proposed TLD application if the applicant withdraws?
If an applicant withdraws, as Safeway Inc. did in 2014, the application is terminated and does not proceed to delegation. The applied-for string, in this case .grocery, could potentially be applied for in a future application round by a different entity, subject to ICANN's rules and policies for that new round.