American Consumers Are Most Satisfied With This Supermarket Chain

According to a new survey, this chain is top dog.

American consumers have spoken, and there’s one supermarket chain that’s simply a cut above the rest, at least as far as customer satisfaction is concerned. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, which was released last month, the supermarket chain in the top spot earned high marks for factors such as the convenience of store hours and location, the layout and cleanliness of the store, and the courtesy and helpfulness of the staff. 

Per the index, which measures customer satisfaction across six retail industries—gas stations, general merchandise retailers, specialty retailers, drugstores, supermarkets, and online retailers—the extent to which a shopper is (or isn’t) satisfied can greatly impact individual brands, as well as the American economy at large. In other words, keeping customers satisfied is of the utmost importance.

So how was this all-important data collected? The index is based on interviews with 35,685 customers, chosen at random and contacted via email between January 2022 and December 2022. Customers were then asked to evaluate their recent experiences with the largest companies in terms of market share, plus an aggregate category consisting of “all other”—and thus smaller—companies in each industry.

Related:This Is America's Most Popular Grocery Store Right Now

Curious to know which grocery chain took top honors? Keep reading for more!

Trader Joe's

Unsurprisingly, the California-based chain came in first place with a rating of 84 out of 100 thanks to things like store cleanliness, those famously helpful and cheerful staff members, and the speed of the checkout process. However, while Trader Joe’s did nab the no.1 spot, it actually scored a point lower with consumers compared to last year.

Costco

The big-box store scored an 82 out of 100, putting it not far behind Trader Joe’s What’s more? Costco actually improved its rating year-over-year, with a worthy one point gain. For the optimal Costco experience, try to visit one of the chain’s best stores.

Related:All the New Costco Locations Opening in 2023 (So Far)

Publix

With more than 1,000 stores throughout the Southeastern United States, Publix is known for its submarine sandwiches and impressive bakery and seafood departments. In fact, some stores even boast sushi bars with fresh rolls made daily, so it’s no surprise that it scored an 82 out of 100—tying with Costco. That rating represents an impressive two point jump over last year.

H-E-B

The average satisfaction rating for the supermarket category was 76 out of 100, and H-E-B came in well above that with a score of 81. While that score does represent a one point drop year-over-year, H-E-B earned points thanks to the ease of its grocery pickup process, and the accuracy of pickup orders.

Related:15 Trader Joe's Shopping Mistakes You Should Avoid at All Costs

Aldi

Though Aldi is often compared to Trader Joe’s on account of its reasonable prices and innovative items, the chain doesn’t quite stack up when it comes to customer satisfaction. In fact, Aldi scored an 80 out of 100—four points less than TJ’s. Still, Aldi scored higher than Wegmans, Whole Foods, and Walmart, which came in last place with a rating of 71.

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