A nationwide shopper survey ranked the country's favorite grocery chains—and one beloved store took the top spot.
There are plenty of places to buy groceries in America, but only a few that people talk about with genuine enthusiasm. You can hear it in the way shoppers describe them: The produce is always good, the employees actually seem happy to help, and there’s usually something new to discover in the snack aisle. They’re the stores people treat like a weekly ritual; the ones where a quick stop for milk somehow turns into a cart full of snacks, staples and whatever that end-of-the-aisle display coerced you into.
So when a national study ranks the country’s favorite grocery stores, it’s the chains shoppers actually enjoy visiting that win out. According to a recent report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), one grocery rises above the rest.
Which grocery store is America’s favorite?
The 2026 ACSI supermarket rankings found Trader Joe’s to be America’s favorite grocery store. The chain earned a customer satisfaction score of 86 out of 100, climbing two points from last year and beating out every other grocery company included in the study.
Several other well-known stores landed close behind. Publix held second place with a score of 84, while Texas favorite H-E-B followed with 83. Warehouse and discount chains also ranked highly, with Sam’s Club at 82, and both Aldi and Costco at 81.
The survey evaluated 19 major grocery store chains and gathered feedback from more than 31,000 shoppers. Store layout and cleanliness, quality of meat and produce, product availability, checkout speed, and staff helpfulness were all part of the scoring.
The report also highlighted how much grocery shopping habits have changed in recent years. Customers now expect stores to perform just as well online as they do in person, and scores improved slightly this year for things like mobile app reliability, pickup order convenience and store hours. Still, despite all the technology and delivery options available today, the basic experience of walking into a grocery store—and how enjoyable it is—remains one of the biggest drivers of customer loyalty.
Why Shoppers Love Trader Joe’s
Personally, I understand the devotion. I was genuinely heartbroken when my family moved to a town without a Trader Joe’s nearby. The closest one now requires a bit of a drive, which means that whenever we travel somewhere that does have one, I pack a cooler and treat it like a supply mission, stocking up on everything from fresh flowers to Hot Honey Popcorn.
That level of dedication is common among Trader Joe’s shoppers. The tiki-tinged chain has built a loyal following thanks to its constantly rotating lineup of creative store-branded products, its famously friendly staff, and its knack for turning everyday grocery shopping into something that feels almost fun.
Trader Joe’s is also known for something you don’t always see at grocery stores anymore: genuinely warm, chatty employees. As someone with a fairly introverted heart, I’ll admit the enthusiastic small talk at the checkout can sometimes catch me off guard, but it’s hard not to appreciate the friendliness. It’s part of what makes a visit to the store feel different from the typical in-and-out grocery run.
That sense of warmth, combined with the store’s distinctive products and loyal fan base, helps explain why Trader Joe’s continues to rank so highly with shoppers year after year.
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