Vote for your favorite grocery store!
USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
There are hundreds of grocery store chains across the United States, but some of them are more beloved than others — and loyal customers will return to their favorites over and over again. An expert panel has nominated these 20 grocery stores as the best in the U.S. for their value, selection, and great service. Which grocery store do you favor frequenting?
Vote once per day for your top pick until voting ends on Monday, September 2 at noon ET. The 10 winning grocery stores will be announced on Thursday, September 12.
Read the official Readers' Choice rules.
There are hundreds of grocery store chains across the United States, but some of them are more beloved than others — and loyal customers will return to their favorites over and over again. An expert panel has nominated these 20 grocery stores as the best in the U.S. for their value, selection, and great service. Which grocery store do you favor frequenting?
Vote once per day for your top pick until voting ends on Monday, September 2 at noon ET. The 10 winning grocery stores will be announced on Thursday, September 12.
Read the official Readers' Choice rules.
There are hundreds of grocery store chains across the United States, but some of them are more beloved than others — and loyal customers will return to their favorites over and over again. An expert panel has nominated... Read More
Best Grocery Store Nominees
Photo courtesy of anyaberkut / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
AJ's Fine Foods
AJ's Fine Foods aims to celebrate gourmet food every day at its locations throughout the Phoenix and Tucson areas. The stores are staffed with chefs, cellar masters, butchers, pastry chefs, baristas, and floral designers who find exciting local and international products, as well as make suggestions for preparation, pairings, and artful presentations. Seafood is flown in from around the globe every day and gourmet breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees from their Bistro let you skip the kitchen entirely.
Photo courtesy of ALDI
ALDI
How many other grocery stores can claim their own fan clubs? Consumers love Aldi's no-frills shopping that results in affordable prices, its large supply of fresh fruits and vegetables that are restocked every day, and the store's liberal return policy called the “Twice As Nice Guarantee.” Just be sure to bring your quarter for the cart and your own shopping bags.
Photo courtesy of Kwangmoozaa / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
Bashas'
Bashas’ is a family-owned grocer that opened in 1932, and today, there are more than 100 stores across Arizona. Expert butchers grind the highest quality beef in store every day, while the bakers are busy making donuts from scratch each morning. The deli constructs made-to-order sandwiches and subs, and the brand promises shoppers the best brick-oven style pizza in town. Plus, look for the "Arizona Grown" tag in the produce department for products that support local farms.
The Fresh Market
The original Fresh Market was inspired by the food markets of Europe — a place where shoppers could have a more intimate and personalized experience than the warehouse-style supermarkets of the time. The Fresh Market now operates 161 locations in 22 states with a focus on fresh produce and private label items.
Photo courtesy of Dan Dalton / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
Fresh Thyme Market
Fresh Thyme stores offer a bright, uncluttered shopping experience with shelves brimming with fragrant herbs and aromatic freshly-ground coffee, plus colorful produce and just-cut meats. The brand partners with nearby farms and producers to bring shoppers sustainable goods and a large variety of all-natural and organic foods. Grind up some fresh peanut or cashew butter and fill a bag with saltwater taffy, fresh nuts, dried fruit, granola, beans, and chocolates in the bulk area.
Photo courtesy of Gelson's Markets
Gelson's Markets
Found in Southern California, Gelson's Markets wow shoppers with spacious aisles and high-quality produce and meat departments. With more than 25 stores from Calabasas to West Hollywood, don't be surprised if you see a celebrity or two picking up a plant-based dinner for two, a bouquet of lilies, and some organic olives.
Photo courtesy of gilaxia // Getty Images
H-E-B
A regional grocery chain, H-E-B is championed for its reasonable prices and friendly staff but also for its Texas-sized heart. The grocery stores are beloved not only for their vast and quality selections of fresh produce, deli offerings, and everyday items, but also for their community response during crises such as extreme weather and widespread power outages.
Photo courtesy of Dan LaGuardia Media
Heinen's Grocery Store
Heinen's Grocery Store is a popular choice for many shoppers because of the quality and variety of products on offer, from fresh produce and bakery items to specialty foods and prepared meals. Add in friendly service and their Tasteful Rewards program and you've got a family-owned regional chain that's a bona fide grocery shopping destination.
Hy-Vee
Employee-owned Hy-Vee's slogan is "a helpful smile in every aisle," and you'll find those grins in more than 280 stores across the Midwest. Hy-Vee works with farmers to provide locally grown fruits and vegetables, and many of the locations offer food counters with colossal salad bars and items like meatloaf, Asian food, pizza, and fried chicken.
Photo courtesy of Minerva Studio // Getty Images
Kroger
Kroger is synonymous with one-stop shopping, offering groceries, baked goods, in-store dining, wine and beer, and even a pharmacy. Shoppers love the enormous selection of items across several departments, as well as affordable pricing on high-quality house brands. Kroger Plus members enjoy even more savings with digital coupons and discounted fuel.
Lidl
Around 80% of the products on the shelves at Europe-based Lidl are private label, which means shoppers are always finding new favorites from around the world. Peruse more than 3,500 products at any given time, including in-store baked goods, fresh flowers, and a sizable wine selection. The eco-conscious “bring your own bag” policy helps to keep prices low.
Natural Grocers
Natural Grocers is a community-focused grocery destination that helps shoppers make informed, healthy choices for themselves and the planet. The stores stock 100% organic produce, pasture-based dairy, and antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. Customers can take advantage of free nutrition classes, disposable bag-free checkouts, and "Always Affordable Pricing." Organic bulk products, like seeds, nuts and flours, are refrigerated for freshness and even frozen items feature organic grass-fed meats, antibiotic-free poultry, and organic vegetables and fruits.
New Seasons Market
New Seasons Market began in 2000 when three families opened a neighborhood market focusing on high-quality local food, progressive employment practices, and being environmentally conscious. This regional grocer stocks tempting items like fresh pasta, big-flavor charcuterie, cave-aged cheeses, and artisanal breads.
Publix Super Markets
Publix has grown from a single store in 1930 to the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Known for its clean, bright stores and friendly staff, in addition to a wide range of high-quality products catering to different tastes and dietary needs, Publix stands out as a supermarket that prioritizes customer satisfaction.
Safeway
Founded as a family business in 1915, Safeway now has more than 900 stores across multiple states. Its national footprint means savings for shoppers, and its free loyalty rewards program helps shoppers save on ever-growing grocery bills. Loyalists are keen on the stores' layouts, the advantage of one-stop shopping, and a wide range of products from pantry staples to international brands. Shoppers can grab a rotisserie chicken, USDA-certified organic fruits and vegetables, freshly baked artisan bread, batteries, a cheese grater and a hanging fern in one fell swoop.
Sprouts Farmers Market
Shoppers get to choose from an array of gluten-free items, non-GMO products, raw foods, and lots of vegan and plant-based products at Sprouts Farmers Market, with around 90% of products being natural or organic. Each of the 400-plus stores offers fresh produce, meat and seafood, dairy, eggs, a full-service deli, frozen foods, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, and baked goods.
Photo courtesy of Stew Leonard's
Stew Leonard's
Founded as a small dairy store in 1969, Stew Leonard's is now known as the world's largest dairy store as well as a great grocer offering meats, fish, produce, baked goods, cheese, and wine. Its on-site costumed characters, entertainment, and animatronics led The New York Times to call Stew Leonard's the "Disneyland of dairy stores."
Photo courtesy of PeopleImages // Getty Images
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe’s has earned a flock of devotees since its first shop opened in 1967. This chain of grocery stores is known for its meticulously curated selection of unique and interesting items at affordable prices. You won’t find a lot of big brands, but you will find cult favorites, like Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning blend, mandarin orange chicken, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, and Unexpected Cheddar.
Wegmans Food Markets
A family company since 1916, Wegmans Food Markets has a roster of over 100 stores in eight states catering to a range of budgets. Devotees like the chain's prepared foods, one-stop shopping, seasonal fare, and its charitable community outreach programs.
Photo courtesy of Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market
Born in Austin, Texas, in 1980, Whole Foods Market introduced Americans to the concept of destination shopping with prepared foods, items for every dietary preference, samples galore, and its high-quality, well-sourced products. The chain is a global leader in natural and organic foods with upwards of 500 stores in North America and the U.K.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Amanda Mactas
Amanda Mactas is a freelance journalist based in... Read More
Amanda Mactas is a freelance journalist based in New York City. Her work has appeared in Time Out, Women's Health, Eat This Not That, Bella Magazine, and PureWow, among others. Her favorite pastime is eating and drinking her way around the world, and when she's not doing that, she's probably thinking or writing about doing just that. Besides being on the hunt for the best food offerings in any given city, she's often looking for a cozy independent bookstore, beautiful cemetery, or haunted locale to discover. You can follow her work and her travels on Instagram.
Amanda Mactas
Amanda Mactas is a freelance journalist based in New York City. Her work has appeared in Time Out, Women's Health, Eat This Not That, Bella Magazine, and PureWow, among others. Her favorite pastime is eating and drinking her way around the world, and when she's not doing that, she's probably thinking or writing about doing just that. Besides being on the hunt for the best food offerings in any given city, she's often looking for a cozy independent bookstore, beautiful cemetery, or haunted locale to discover. You can follow her work and her travels on Instagram.
Brian Cicioni
Brian enjoys exploring cities along public transit... Read More
Brian enjoys exploring cities along public transit lines and writing about it at his blog, imayroam.com. He also writes about food tours, layovers, and exploring movie and musical landmarks. Brian has traveled to 57 countries as well as every state. On weekends, he leads music and film-focused tours of New York City. His five-star rated Goodfellas Tour has been featured in Airbnb Magazine. Always happy to offer tips to aspiring travel writers and tour guides, Brian has been featured at the New York Times Travel Show as part of their Meet the Experts panel.
Brian Cicioni
Brian enjoys exploring cities along public transit lines and writing about it at his blog, imayroam.com. He also writes about food tours, layovers, and exploring movie and musical landmarks. Brian has traveled to 57 countries as well as every state. On weekends, he leads music and film-focused tours of New York City. His five-star rated Goodfellas Tour has been featured in Airbnb Magazine. Always happy to offer tips to aspiring travel writers and tour guides, Brian has been featured at the New York Times Travel Show as part of their Meet the Experts panel.
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Carole Terwilliger Meyers has written articles for... Read More
Carole Terwilliger Meyers has written articles for numerous outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Via, and Orbitz. She has been a featured guest on the Today Show and quoted in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Her favorite and most frequent destinations are London, NYC, and Hawaii, but she favors destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives and about which she writes frequently. Carole is a blogger--Travels with Carole; a website publisher--Berkeley and Beyond and Webcam Traveler; and an active freelance writer. You can follow Carole on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Carole Terwilliger Meyers has written articles for numerous outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Via, and Orbitz. She has been a featured guest on the Today Show and quoted in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Her favorite and most frequent destinations are London, NYC, and Hawaii, but she favors destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives and about which she writes frequently. Carole is a blogger--Travels with Carole; a website publisher--Berkeley and Beyond and Webcam Traveler; and an active freelance writer. You can follow Carole on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50... Read More
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland
Marlynn is a former broadcast news anchor/reporter... Read More
Marlynn is a former broadcast news anchor/reporter who has combined her love of writing and publishing with her passion for cooking, baking, wine, and travel. She is a cookbook author, recipe developer for food & beverage brands, and longtime food, wine, and travel writer. In 2004, she launched Urban Bliss Life, a leading food, wine, and travel website. She is a regular guest chef on the Portland, Oregon ABC affiliate'sAfternoonLive show, where she cooks different recipes live each month. She has also been featured as a recurring guest chef on The Drew Barrymore Show, as well as Season 3 of the Magnolia Network and Chef Andrew Zimmern's TV show Family Dinner. Her recipes have been featured in Oprah.com, Martha Stewart, Shape, Eating Well, Good Housekeeping, the Pioneer Woman, and more. Marlynn is also a certified wine pro, holding a WSET 2 with Distinction certification and currently is working on her Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) certification. You can connect with Marlynn and find her easy, comfort food recipes, wine pairings, and foodie travel tips on Urban Bliss Life as well as on Instagram, and you can find her cookbooks, The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Meal Prep Cookbook and The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook, in most major booksellers online and on her website.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland
Marlynn is a former broadcast news anchor/reporter who has combined her love of writing and publishing with her passion for cooking, baking, wine, and travel. She is a cookbook author, recipe developer for food & beverage brands, and longtime food, wine, and travel writer. In 2004, she launched Urban Bliss Life, a leading food, wine, and travel website. She is a regular guest chef on the Portland, Oregon ABC affiliate'sAfternoonLive show, where she cooks different recipes live each month. She has also been featured as a recurring guest chef on The Drew Barrymore Show, as well as Season 3 of the Magnolia Network and Chef Andrew Zimmern's TV show Family Dinner. Her recipes have been featured in Oprah.com, Martha Stewart, Shape, Eating Well, Good Housekeeping, the Pioneer Woman, and more. Marlynn is also a certified wine pro, holding a WSET 2 with Distinction certification and currently is working on her Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) certification. You can connect with Marlynn and find her easy, comfort food recipes, wine pairings, and foodie travel tips on Urban Bliss Life as well as on Instagram, and you can find her cookbooks, The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Meal Prep Cookbook and The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook, in most major booksellers online and on her website.
Meg St-Esprit
Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh... Read More
Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh who covers family travel, lifestyle, education, and parenting. With their four kids in tow, she and her husband love to travel anywhere and everywhere — but have a soft spot for camping and outdoor adventures. In fact, her kids are well on their way to achieving their goal of visiting all 124 state parks in Pennsylvania. Meg believes travel doesn’t need to be luxurious or costly to be valuable, and aims to share that with her audience. Meg’s work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Thrillist, The Washington Post, Fodor’s, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, Romper, and more. Follow Meg on Instagram and Twitter at @megstesprit or check out her work on https://megstesprit.com/
Meg St-Esprit
Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh who covers family travel, lifestyle, education, and parenting. With their four kids in tow, she and her husband love to travel anywhere and everywhere — but have a soft spot for camping and outdoor adventures. In fact, her kids are well on their way to achieving their goal of visiting all 124 state parks in Pennsylvania. Meg believes travel doesn’t need to be luxurious or costly to be valuable, and aims to share that with her audience. Meg’s work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Thrillist, The Washington Post, Fodor’s, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, Romper, and more. Follow Meg on Instagram and Twitter at @megstesprit or check out her work on https://megstesprit.com/
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of Read More
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.