Trader Joe’s Claims the Crown – Again!
Walking through those automatic doors and hearing that familiar bell chime, there’s something magical about stepping into a Trader Joe’s. You know exactly what I mean if you’ve ever experienced their quirky charm first-hand. In the supermarket category, two beloved chains—Trader Joe’s and Publix—tied for the top spot, an outcome that may not come as a surprise to their loyal customers.
Publix, Trader Joe’s and Sam’s Club were the top retailers in the supermarket category with an average score of 84, 84 and 83, respectively. But let’s be honest – Trader Joe’s has this uncanny ability to make grocery shopping feel less like a chore and more like treasure hunting. The brand takes feedback seriously: It recently hosted its own 16th-annual customer survey for the best products on its shelves.
Publix Proves Southern Hospitality Isn’t Dead
There’s something almost nostalgic about shopping at Publix that takes you back to when customer service actually meant something. Trader Joe’s and Publix receiving a score of 84, Whole Foods receiving a score of 82, and Costco receiving a score of 81. This Florida-based chain has mastered the art of making every customer feel like they’re shopping at their neighborhood store, even when they’re in a massive supermarket.
According to the report, Publix has long been a top-tier supermarket performer and its stores rate best in class for layout and cleanliness. When you think about it, clean aisles and helpful staff shouldn’t be revolutionary – but somehow they feel that way in today’s retail landscape. Still, H-E-B isn’t alone in its top spot in the South, sharing a regional score of 84 with Publix, a Florida-based chain that also claimed the top score nationwide.
Sam’s Club and Wegmans Fight for Third Place
The warehouse club experience can either be your best friend or worst nightmare, depending on your shopping style. Sam’s Club and Wegmans also came in with the same score of 83 for the next spots. What’s fascinating here is how these two completely different shopping experiences ended up with identical satisfaction scores.
Sam’s Club where the retailer’s customer satisfaction jumped from 81 in the 2024 report to 85 in 2025. Sam’s Club Scan & Go program allows customers to scan in-store items and purchase their items in the app instead of the checkout counter. Meanwhile, Wegmans has built a reputation as the “Disneyland of grocery shopping” with its massive stores and restaurant-quality prepared foods. The East Coast chain’s satisfaction score jumped by a remarkable 1% (the largest increase among the top 10).
H-E-B Takes Texas-Sized Pride to New Heights
Ask any Texan about their grocery store loyalty, and you’ll likely get a passionate speech about H-E-B that rivals their feelings about barbecue. Whole Foods (82) and H-E-B (82). This regional powerhouse proves that you don’t need to be nationwide to capture hearts and shopping carts.
H-E-B’s customers say they like the store because it offers impressive and unusual displays — such as a pepper stall that organizes products from “mild and nice” to “super spicy,” and a grind-your-own nut butter station. You’ve got to admire a grocery chain that understands shopping should engage all your senses. H-E-B fell a few percentage points in customer satisfaction, with a score of 82 compared to 85 last year, but they’re still fighting hard for that top spot.
Whole Foods Maintains Premium Appeal
Love it or hate it, Whole Foods changed the grocery game forever when it made organic and natural foods mainstream. Whole Foods (82) and H-E-B (82). Sure, the “Whole Paycheck” jokes never get old, but there’s undeniable satisfaction in knowing exactly where your produce comes from and how it was grown.
Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and H-E-B all ranked first in customer satisfaction with a common score of 84 (out of 100), ahead of Whole Foods (owned by Amazon) with a score of 79. The Amazon acquisition brought some changes, but the core Whole Foods experience – that careful curation of products and emphasis on quality – still resonates with shoppers who prioritize food sourcing over savings.
Costco’s Bulk Empire Shows Some Cracks
The mighty have fallen, and nobody saw it coming quite like this. Costco’s shopper satisfaction score dropped 5% in 2024, the most significant dip on the ACSI’s dataset. It was previously tied for the top spot in 2024. That’s like watching your reliable friend suddenly become unreliable – it shakes your worldview a bit.
Costco was the top supermarket among consumers in 2024 but fell by 5% for a score of 81 this year. Maybe it’s the membership card scanning at the door, or perhaps those legendary long lines are finally wearing people down. There’s lots to love about this big box bulk retailer, from member-only savings to its almost-mythical $1.50 hot dogs, but something’s shifted in the customer experience equation.
Aldi Proves Discount Doesn’t Mean Disappointing
Here’s where things get interesting – proving that you don’t need to spend a fortune to satisfy customers. Aldi has mastered the art of no-frills shopping that somehow feels premium. Publix, Central Market, H-E-B, WinCo Foods, Lidl, Aldi, and The Fresh Market were also among the top 10 highest-rated grocers.
The quarter-for-a-cart system and bring-your-own-bags approach initially seemed like inconveniences, but customers have embraced these quirks as part of the Aldi charm. More than three-quarters of ALDI shoppers polled in a survey said they find the store “simpler to shop” and at least 20% faster to shop than Kroger and Walmart stores. When efficiency becomes a selling point, you know you’re doing something right.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Faces Membership Fatigue
The warehouse club model seemed unstoppable just a few years ago, but customer satisfaction tells a different story now. BJ’s, in 2025, scored 77 points, compared to 82 points in 2024. That’s a dramatic drop that should have executives asking some serious questions about their customer experience.
BJ’s Wholesale Club (77) suffered the biggest slides with consumers at 5% and 6%, respectively. Maybe shoppers are getting tired of buying everything in massive quantities, or perhaps the membership fees are starting to feel less worthwhile. Either way, this East Coast favorite needs to figure out how to win back customer hearts.
Kroger Struggles with Scale and Satisfaction
Being America’s largest traditional grocery chain comes with expectations, and Kroger seems to be struggling to meet them consistently across all locations. Only three grocers saw satisfaction gains year over year: Ahold Delhaize, up 1% to 78, Kroger (up 1% to 78), and Walmart (up 1% to 75.). That modest improvement shows they’re trying, but climbing just one point feels like treading water.
Kroger tied Hy-Vee and Ahold Delhaize for #13 in 2025. They saw a 1% gain in customer satisfaction, with a final score of 78%. The challenge for mega-chains like Kroger is maintaining consistent quality and service across thousands of locations. When your brand includes everything from upscale stores to budget locations, customer experiences can vary wildly.
Walmart Finally Escapes Last Place
Here’s something nobody expected to write in 2025: Walmart didn’t finish dead last in customer satisfaction. For the first time in 20 years, Walmart didn’t rank dead last! With a 1% increase in customer satisfaction and an overall score of 78%, they just beat out Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle.
Only three grocers saw satisfaction gains year over year: Ahold Delhaize, up 1% to 78, Kroger (up 1% to 78), and Walmart (up 1% to 75.). That 75 score might not look impressive, but for a company that’s been consistently ranked at the bottom, any upward movement represents genuine progress. Maybe those billions invested in store renovations and employee training are finally paying off.
