America’s best supermarkets

With seven stores in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, Stew Leonard’s is a small supermarket chain but a fun one. Founded in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1969, Stew Leonard’s has been dubbed the “Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by The New York Times — the chain is known as a fun place for families to shop because of the costumed characters, scheduled entertainment and petting zoos throughout the stores. Another aspect we love? The customer service. Stew Leonard’s culture is built around a loose acronym for S.T.E.W.: Satisfy the customer; work together as a Team; strive for Excellence in everything you do; and get the customer to say Wow. And employees are treated just as well as the customers — the chain made Fortune magazine’s list of the best companies to work for 10 consecutive years. Unlike most grocery stores that stock products in massive quantities, each Stew Leonard’s store carries only 2,200 items, chosen specifically for their freshness, quality and value.