Top 15 Best Grocery Stores in America, According to Boomers

There are a lot of grocery stores in the U.S. But which ones are the most popular?

YouGov, a global market research and analysis firm, set out to answer the question. To determine which stores are the most popular, the firm asked American shoppers if they had a positive opinion about specific chains. 

The following 15 shops were at the top of the list. Some are known to be great places to save more on everyday essentials like groceries, while others simply offer a great shopping experience.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 34%

Meijer is a family-owned, regional retailer well-known in the Midwest. Together with his son Fred, Hendrik Meijer opened Meijer's Grocery in 1934. Their 1962 supercenter aimed to break down the barriers between selling groceries, clothing, and hardware.

Touting fresh food, high-quality products, and friendliness, the family-operated company aims to bring a hometown feel to their stores.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 38%

Founded in the early 1900s, A&P was synonymous with grocery shopping for much of the 20th century. In its heyday, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company was the largest supermarket chain in the country. 

Following a company closure in 2015, they announced a relaunch three years later according to the brand's website.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 40%

IGA was founded in 1926 to bring together family-owned, local grocery stores under the Independent Grocers Alliance. The stores in the alliance remain independently owned and operated.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 41%

Winn-Dixie stores exist in just five Southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. However, the chain operates hundreds of stores in the region.

In spite of the store’s regional nature, Americans in many states may still be familiar with the brand thanks to the popular children’s book and film “Because of Winn-Dixie.”

 Pro tip: The next time you shop at one of the stores on this list, consider paying for your purchases with one of the top rewards credit cards. That way, you will earn cash back or other perks.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 41%

In the 1950s, founder Fred Hervey invested in three small shops in El Paso, Texas. 

From there, he built a franchise that expanded across the Southwestern U.S. and beyond. Today, Circle K is located in more than 20 countries.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 41% 

Ray and Beverly Berry started The Fresh Market in the following a trip overseas. In 1982, the couple adapted the fresh feel of European markets for their first location in North Carolina. 

Over 40 years later, the chain now has over 160 locations across the country. 

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 46%

Publix was founded in Florida in the early days of the Great Depression. Its founder, George Jenkins, invested in his employees right off the bat by establishing employee ownership of the company.

This focus on employees remained in place as Publix expanded. Today, Publix is the biggest employee-owned company in the U.S.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 47%

Started by Joe Albertson in Boise, Idaho in 1939, the store greatly expanded across the American West. 

California has the most locations of any state, with a whopping 125. 

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 48%

Piggly Wiggly is another regionally specific grocery franchise operating mainly in the South. The chain began in Memphis, Tennessee in 1916.

The source of the store’s unusual name remains a mystery. Founder Clarence Saunders usually dodged the question.

He later opened a chain called Clarence Saunders, Sole Owner of My Name Stores, and an automated store called the Keedoozle. So, it seems fair to assume Saunders simply loved bizarre, memorable names.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 52%

The first Whole Foods Market opened in Austin, Texas, in 1980. Even though a devastating flood destroyed the original market’s entire inventory a year later, it quickly recouped its losses and expanded to more Texas cities in 1984.

Just four years later, the franchise expanded beyond The Lone Star State, reaching over 500 total locations in North America and the UK.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 53%

Safeway began its life in American Falls, Idaho. Founder Marion Barton Skaggs opened his first store in 1915.

By 1928, Skaggs’ supermarket chain was big and profitable enough to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where it remains today.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 57%

With the same percentage of positive impressions but slightly more negative ones, 7-Eleven is almost tied with Trader Joe's.

7-Eleven launched in 1927 in Dallas as the world's first convenience store. 

With more than 85,000 across 19 countries, the brand's goal is to show customers just how convenient shopping should be. 

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 59%

Trader Joe’s is the brainchild of entrepreneur Joe Coulombe, who spent decades perfecting the store’s unique appeal.

For the most part, Trader Joe’s doesn’t sell brand-name products. Instead, the company selectively chooses high-quality products from across the globe to market under the Trader Joe’s label.

Given its popularity score, this niche approach to grocery shopping appears to have paid off.

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 61%

The Albrecht family founded Aldi in Germany during the early 1960s. Aldi opened their first U.S. location in the mid-1970s, and are now based stateside in Batavia, Illinois. 

Percentage of people with a positive opinion: 61%

Kroger is named after its founder, Barney Kroger, who opened his first grocery store in Cincinnati in 1883. Kroger eventually started selling home-baked bread alongside groceries, and the business model clearly paid off.

The Kroger company now owns and operates several supermarket chains with national name recognition, including Ralphs, Smith’s, City Market, and Fry’s. 

As of 2024, Kroger is the largest grocer in the U.S. 

Whether it's scoring savings to help tackle high grocery costs or enjoying a peaceful atmosphere, these 15 stores demonstrate that there's a supermarket for everyone's style.