America’s #1 Grocery Chain Was Just Named—And It's Probably Not the One You Think It Is
Grocery shopping
Awards season has finally descended upon us, and it seems like everyone (goblins included) is getting in on the action. Although we love a good red carpet moment and can’t resist tuning in for the drama (even if it only lasts overnight), sometimes, the most exciting award announcements are the ones you’d least expect. While much of the focus falls on star-studded events like the Emmys and Oscars, there are a variety of other awards and lists that officially certify their results this time of year — and we’ve got the deets on one more you might be interested in.
For seven years, data analytics firm dunnhumby has compiled a list of the year's top retailers, and they’ve officially released this year’s findings in their annual Retail Preference Index. To quantify their results, the firm compiled the largest 65 retailers that sell food and household items and looked at prices, digital capabilities, convenience, speed and quality to determine each chain’s ranking. Among the brands fighting for the top spot were the usual suspects like Trader Joe’s, Target, and Walmart — but the brand that took home the gold is one you probably couldn’t guess.
Related: The One Item Costco Shoppers Say You 'Can't Leave the Store Without'
So what grocery store was crowned America’s #1? None other than Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B. For those unfamiliar with the brand, you’ll only find one of their 420 locations in Texas and Northern Mexico, but it’s equivalent to Publix or Safeway. According to dunnhumby, the grocer was awarded the top position for the third time this year because it has “the strongest customer value proposition for the long-term.” H-E-B is the first chain to top the list three times, but Trader Joe’s and Amazon aren’t far behind, taking home two wins each in previous years.
Taking home the number two spot this year was Amazon, and Costco came in at a cool number three. Other notable names on this year’s list include Sam’s Club, Aldi, Kroger, Wegmans and Fry’s, just to name a few. When it comes to the thesis behind the firm's reporting, dunnhumby's President of the Americas, Matt O'Grady, summed it up by saying, “In this year's RPI, we illuminate how the consumer views the grocery market, and how different retailers are meeting the general population's needs as well as the needs of different consumer segments.”
Now that we know America’s top grocery chain and we’ve gotten a glimpse at King Arthur’s recipe of the year, the only thing left to do is kick back and relax until the Grammy's premiere on February 4 at 8 p.m.
