Pop quiz: What’s your go-to grocery store? Admit it; you definitely have one... and an opinion about it too! opinions About why it tops your list. How can anyone resist? You probably visit regularly, so ensuring the smoothest experience is crucial. Even though opinions vary on what matters most, everyone considers these factors. affordability , convenience, customer service, and exclusive items we simply can't do without. Personally, I must confess with slight embarrassment that I often bypass significant discounts at other stores to shop at my preferred location—this speaks volumes about how important it is even during these economically challenging times!
Now, you might be questioning whether your favorite grocery store truly stands out as the top choice. Fortunately, a survey conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) offers insight into this matter, highlighting which stores rank highest across the nation. most popular grocery store And discover why shoppers adore it so greatly. Continue reading for more information—and perhaps uncover a new favorite spot.
Get Reader’s Digest ’s Read Up newsletter For daily updates on shopping news, humorous content, cleaning tips, travel ideas, technology insights, and interesting facts throughout the week.
What methods did the research employ to identify the leading grocery store?
The ACSI Retail and Consumer Shipping Study conducted in 2025 involved 41,850 randomly selected consumers who assessed their most recent interactions with major businesses, such as supermarkets. These participants were reached via email for the study spanning from January through December of 2024.
ACSI subsequently examined the feedback to gauge customer satisfaction according to expectations, perceived quality, and perceived value. Every outlet was assigned a customer satisfaction rating ranging from zero to 100 points across 18 different metrics such as store accessibility regarding timing and positioning, the efficacy of their mobile application, and the politeness and assistance provided by employees. The establishment achieving the peak score earned the title of premier grocery retailer for 2025.
Which supermarket took first place?
That might be considered a tricky question since the survey did not identify a single leading grocery store in America; instead, it identified two! The ACSI report reveals this information. Trader Joe’s Publix shared the top position with another company, both earning an 84, which was one percent higher than the following supermarket. The ACSI reported that voters particularly praised "the ease of the curbside pick-up process, convenient store timings and placements, as well as superior mobile applications."
Some interesting history: Trader Joe’s has dominated this survey in recent years, though it briefly slid into second place last year. Publix, the reigning champ of 2024 (along with Costco and H-E-B), slipped 1 percentage point this year to tie with Trader Joe’s (which remained unchanged in its satisfaction number). But hey, a win’s a win!
What makes these stores so popular?
If you’re a fan, well, you know—but it’s still good to see the reasons why your judgment is excellent. And if you’ve never shopped at these stores or you haven’t really given them a proper chance, here’s a handy cheat sheet that just may make you head to one of them on your next grocery run.
Trader Joe’s
There’s so much to love about Trader Joe’s, starting with an amazing selection of exclusive private-label products, including its famous Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups (a personal favorite) and one-of-a-kind frozen foods. Trader Joe’s also cares about what its customers think. Case in point: The chain recently hosted its 16th Annual Customer Choice Awards, asking shoppers to chime in with their favorite Trader Joe’s–exclusive products.
And then there are the low prices , which can be lowered even further by the coupons in the store’s weekly coupon guide. Customers are also in the know, staying further apprised of deals and all things Trader Joe’s with the store’s Fearless Flyer newsletter and its very own podcast.
Workers are also pretty darn happy there, and for good reason. Glassdoor scores are generally positive, indicating it’s a great place to work , and employees get excellent benefits, including medical, dental and vision coverage, not to mention 20% off store items. Of course, happier employees translates to better customer service, especially in this case!
Publix
Though Publix is found only in the Southeast, its reputation looms large. Again, low prices are a clear draw here, but customers also generally love it for its cleanliness and layout, as well as its courteous staff. One likely reason for the good vibes and the sensible store features? Publix is an employee-owned company—the largest in the United States. Employees get shares of stock in the company after working 1,000 hours in a year, and that personal stake means they’ll go the extra mile to see that Publix succeeds, including by providing excellent customer service.
Fans also call out the chain’s exclusive items, including its Pub Subs, which recently gained national fame on social media. These customizable deli sandwiches, made on the store’s fresh-baked daily sub rolls, are a hit, to say the least. Over on TikTok, you’ll find videos of people trying and rating them, with overwhelmingly positive results. Bonus: If an ingredient you want isn’t available at the deli, you can grab it from an aisle to get it put on. It doesn’t get better than that!
What other grocery stores topped the list?
- Trader Joe’s and Publix
- Sam’s Club (Walmart)
- Wegmans
- H-E-B
- Whole Foods (Amazon)
- Aldi
- Costco
- ShopRite
- Target
Notably, H-E-B and Costco , which were tied for first place with Publix last year, fell 3 and 4 percentage points, respectively, in this year’s survey. Wegmans moved up one spot from last year’s list , and Target lost two points, landing it in last place. The rest of the stores on the list remained steady year over year.
Let’s see if Trader Joe’s and Publix can keep it up for next year and how Costco’s increasingly positive public perception and rising grocery prices will affect the results moving forward. At the very least, Publix can count on at least one Pub Sub purchase in 2025—from me, of course.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest , we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team , our contributors and our editorial policies .
Sources:
- ACSI : “Customer Satisfaction with Online Retail Stumbles as Over Two-Thirds of Online Brands See Declines, ACSI Data Show (2024–2025)”
- Trader Joe’s : “16th Annual Customer Choice Awards Winners”
- ACSI : “Over 60% of Retailers See Customer Satisfaction Spikes, with Costco, H-E-B, and Publix Leading the Way, ASCI Data Show (2023–2024)”
- Business Insider : “I went shopping at Publix and saw why Southerners love it so much”
- CNBC : “From chatty employees to $5 wine: How Trader Joe’s turns customers into fanatics”