Ten Best Supermarket Chains in the US

[CFrance]

Some of you are going to looooove this.


The 10 Best Supermarkets in the U.S. | Food & Wine (https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/best-supermarket-america-usa?xid=NL_DISH082718&utm_source=foodandwine.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-dish&utm_content=2018082720PM&eminfo=%7b%22EMAIL%22%3a%228Kn3tdDwwZ4ucp7tvg7u5sE FAz5azrR8%22%2c%22BRAND%22%3a%22WI%22%2c%22CONTENT %22%3a%22Newsletter%22%2c%22UID%22%3a%22WI_DSH_6A0 D4326-79BF-409D-8E8C-25FE8FEE9CEB%22%2c%22SUBID%22%3a%2274089309%22%2c% 22JOBID%22%3a%22861515%22%2c%22NEWSLETTER%22%3a%22 THE_DISH%22%2c%22ZIP%22%3a%2232162%22%2c%22COUNTRY %22%3a%22%22%7d)

[Ecuadog]

Love it.

[BobsBurgers]

I really missed Wegmans when we first moved to Florida. But I’ve come to appreciate Publix and the occasional trip to Fresh Market.

[fw102807]

No surprise at all about Wegmans.

[JSR22]

I miss Wegmans. Publix is not that great.

[John_W]

They built a new Wegman's across the street from my subdivision in Maryland and the new manager bought my home. The company actually will buy the manager's old home when they transfer so they don't have to worry about selling and buying one before the other. The manager had a letter from the Wegman corp that guaranteed the funds.

The area of the store for already prepared foods (everything from crab cakes to pizza) that you can eat on the premises or take home is bigger than an Aldis. They compete with nearby restaurants as much as other supermarkets. Within a year of the announced opening of the new store, one grocery store across the street closed (Weis), the Giant Grocery Store (similar to Publix) added gas pumps on site, and Walmart attempted to move to a different location 2 miles further away.

[EdFNJ]

I really missed Wegmans when we first moved to Florida. But I’ve come to appreciate Publix and the occasional trip to Fresh Market.IMO The Fresh Market here is like WaWa compared to Wegman's. Wegman's is a true supermarket while IMO Fresh Market here is like a small overpriced specialty food store.

I was in a F.M. in South Fl that was 5x the size of this one but since they don't carry "regular supermarket" type of items they can't be compared.

[jimmemac]

Yup Wegmans puts Publix to shame!!!

[l2ridehd]

What amazes me is the size of the gap. It isn't like they are just a little bit better then everyone else, they are significantly better. Not only significantly better, but they also have much better prices and selection. Other chains have to recognize this so why wouldn't someone else determine how they do it and try to follow their model.

Why wouldn't a chain like Publix send ever store manager to a Wegman's and spend a week there. Come back and get a meeting together of those managers and find a way to improve their brand.

Wegmans is expanding and moving slowly South. And everywhere they go they put the others out of business. I lived in Northern Virginia and watched as they moved in. If I owned this type business and saw their model working, I would sure start now to try and fix my product. I wouldn't wait until they get here because then it's to late.

Some of the things I found I liked about Wegmans.

The web site. I could build my shopping list online, add recipe ingredients with one click, and get a store map of where everything on my shopping list was located.

Labeling. Every Wegmans brand product is labeled with all the different things people may need to know. Gluten, lactose, lean, low fat, vegan, etc for a total of 12 different labels.

Produce. So much better quality then anyplace I have shopped. They last longer when I get them home.

Pricing. I have taken my publix sales slip and gone to the Wegmans web site and made the same list. It is always 20% to 30% less.

Selection. In almost every department you have more and better choices.

Employees. The train their employees well. You can ask anyone in the store where to find something and they will take you directly to it.

Their food court is great, wine store excellent, cheese shop, meat department, seafood all have excellent selections.

The food court is so big you will see tour buses stopping there for lunch.

[photo1902]

What amazes me is the size of the gap. It isn't like they are just a little bit better then everyone else, they are significantly better. Not only significantly better, but they also have much better prices and selection. Other chains have to recognize this so why wouldn't someone else determine how they do it and try to follow their model.

Why wouldn't a chain like Publix send ever store manager to a Wegman's and spend a week there. Come back and get a meeting together of those managers and find a way to improve their brand.

Wegmans is expanding and moving slowly South. And everywhere they go they put the others out of business. I lived in Northern Virginia and watched as they moved in. If I owned this type business and saw their model working, I would sure start now to try and fix my product. I wouldn't wait until they get here because then it's to late.

Some of the things I found I liked about Wegmans.

The web site. I could build my shopping list online, add recipe ingredients with one click, and get a store map of where everything on my shopping list was located.

Labeling. Every Wegmans brand product is labeled with all the different things people may need to know. Gluten, lactose, lean, low fat, vegan, etc for a total of 12 different labels.

Produce. So much better quality then anyplace I have shopped. They last longer when I get them home.

Pricing. I have taken my publix sales slip and gone to the Wegmans web site and made the same list. It is always 20% to 30% less.

Selection. In almost every department you have more and better choices.

Employees. The train their employees well. You can ask anyone in the store where to find something and they will take you directly to it.

Their food court is great, wine store excellent, cheese shop, meat department, seafood all have excellent selections.

The food court is so big you will see tour buses stopping there for lunch.

100% correct on all points. I remember talking to the manager of a Giant, shortly before the Wegman's opened in Fair Oaks. He described it as a "flash in the pan", and that it "wouldn't be successful". Boy was he wrong.

[rustyp]

I went to college in Rochester NY. The very first Wegman's was one block away from my apartment. Amazing to watch them grow in size and strategy. Have several friends that went to work for Wegmans and it turned into a career. Two of them are now retired and snowbird in TV. Never heard anything but praise for what a great employer Wegmans was.

I hear other TV folks favorably comparing Wegmans to Publix and Fresh Market. No comparison. Must be from the midwest.

[collie1228]

I've been in TV for six years now, and the Upstate NY entity I miss the most is still Wegmans, which had a store less than a mile from my home (in a northern Syracuse suburb). If you've never had a Wegman's near you, you are missing something great. But I don't understand the negative comments on Publix. I think that Publix is the closest I've seen to Wegman's in the South.

[graciegirl]

I have never ever heard anyone talk about Wegmans without absolutely giving them glowing reviews.

I am jealous. But since I know no better, I really like Publix, Winn-Dixie, Aldi's, Fresh Market and even Walmart. I LOVE to go grocery shopping.

I used to think Krogers was great, but I like Publix better by far for most things.

I guess I will never know how great Wegman's is. Sigh.

[JoMar]

Another vote for Wegman's......sure do miss them

[manaboutown]

Having just returned from a TJ's run I thought I would check this thread out.

Wegmans is indeed incredible! My daughter recently moved back to Maryland and now lives close to one she loves.

Personally, I love Central Market which I have visited several times in Fort Worth, TX. It is really, really impressive.

Whole Foods, blah, blah, blah...I have gotten diarrhea every time I ate their eat-in prepared food. They charge whole paycheck prices. I have them near me at both residences but will pass on them.

Costco has some great meats, fruits and vegetables and I shop there as well.

I do like Publix!

[dewilson58]

Nothing beats HyVee (well, beside 9 others).

We love HyVee's.

They reinvest in their stores.
Most have bars and table cloth dining.
(sounds weird, I know.........but it works)

:popcorn:

[NotGolfer]

Coming from the midwest...I liked HyVee! Here, I like Aldi, sometimes Publix so can't speak to the other regional compaines. Meier (sp?) wasn't mentioned but folks on TOTV have said they missed that. I experienced the store one time and didn't see the attraction...but that was just me. The way we shop is, we get what we like to eat and have the brands we gravitate to. We have food restrictions due to "allergies" so that's one given we have. When we first arrived in this area----we shopped Publix, didn't like Winn Dixie (still don't much), then added Aldi and Sam's. We seldom go to Sam's anymore as we don't buy in volume. Used to get wine there and a few canned/jarred items.

[CFrance]

Coming from the midwest...I liked HyVee! Here, I like Aldi, sometimes Publix so can't speak to the other regional compaines. Meier (sp?) wasn't mentioned but folks on TOTV have said they missed that. I experienced the store one time and didn't see the attraction...but that was just me. The way we shop is, we get what we like to eat and have the brands we gravitate to. We have food restrictions due to "allergies" so that's one given we have. When we first arrived in this area----we shopped Publix, didn't like Winn Dixie (still don't much), then added Aldi and Sam's. We seldom go to Sam's anymore as we don't buy in volume. Used to get wine there and a few canned/jarred items.
Meijer in the Midwest--especially Michigan. My husband loved it. I personally thought that it looked like it had a lot of product, but on closer inspection it had a lot of the same product--like three shelves of Heinz Ketchup, three shelves of Hellman's mayo, etc. I did like the fact that it was a full-service store, so you could buy food and jewelry and clothing and lawn mowers in the same place. I didn't hate it. I just liked the D&W super stores better.

In Pittsburgh we always shopped in Giant Eagle and especially liked their super stores. Also liked Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in the Burgh, but it was a little hard to get to from our apartment on the North Shore.

[DangeloInspections]

We are from Rochester and Buffalo, so we also miss Wegman's. Great company. There is a great story about them. If I remember correctly, as it was a few years ago, Alec Baldwin was on the David Letterman show. Letterman asked him about his mother, and why has he not bought a new house for his Mother and moved her to Beverly Hills....

Baldwin replied that he TRIED to give his mom a new house in L.A., and wanted her to move out there away from the snow, etc. She refused, stating that she would never leave Wegman's.....

What great P.R. for Wegman's...! Afterward, Danny Wegman contacted Baldwin and he was in one of their commercials.

One of the more famous things in Rochester NY, home of Wegman's is the Strong Museum of Play. In there there is a amazing make believe Wegmans with play food, real registers, shopping carts, etc, that the kiddies can shop in anf go through the registers and get a receipt for what they "bought" etc. It is very cool.

Anyway, I love it down here, I do not miss the snow I do miss Wegman's....

Frank

[collie1228]

Another point about Wegmans. Fortune mag has an annual listing of the top 100 places to work in the USA. Wegman's is a perpetual top company in the listing; number 2 overall in 2017 and 2018. You can really feel the happiness of the employees, which obviously makes the shopping experience memorable.

[Ecuadog]

Wegmans... Ahhhhh, the cheeses. Epoisses, Stinking Bishop, Humboldt Fog, etc.

By the way, our Sam's Club sells Fromager d'Affinois.

[Nucky]

Wegmans... Ahhhhh, the cheeses. Epoisses, Stinking Bishop, Humboldt Fog, etc.

By the way, our Sam's Club sells Fromager d'Affinois.

The Cheese Dept is really the only reason I liked Wegman's at all and they really do treat their employees well. Overall I prefer to work with what's available than stress about what once was. I don't miss Costco either.

I understand the strong feeling's others have for the places they had at there old home. For us this is home and we will make the best out of what is available storewise, it's not like we are suffering. :duck:

[Ecuadog]

The Cheese Dept is really the only reason I liked Wegman's at all and they really do treat their employees well. Overall I prefer to work with what's available than stress about what once was. I don't miss Costco either.

I understand the strong feeling's others have for the places they had at there old home. For us this is home and we will make the best out of what is available storewise, it's not like we are suffering. :duck:

I never lived near a Wegmans. My nearest favorite was Fairway. Going to Wegmans was a special trip or a detour on the way to visit someone. I'm reliving fond memories, not stressing or suffering.

[2BNTV]

I am not surprised the supermarkets where I came from, did not make the list, so I guess, I won. :D

I thought Stew Leonards in CT, was a very decent store.

Still waiting for a Traders Joe. :shrug:

Sine my taste buds are not refined, I,'' deal with it. :smiley:

[CFrance]

I am not surprised the supermarkets where I came from, did not make the list, so I guess, I won. :D

I thought Stew Leonards in CT, was a very decent store.

Still waiting for a Traders Joe. :shrug:

Sine my taste buds are not refined, I,'' deal with it. :smiley:
Ha ha! Pathmark not on the list!!! I remember in the '80s there were never enough carts to go around in Pathmark, and they had posts up right outside the store so you couldn't take the carts to your car!

[BK001]

Ha ha! Pathmark not on the list!!! I remember in the '80s there were never enough carts to go around in Pathmark, and they had posts up right outside the store so you couldn't take the carts to your car!

HaHa -- Too funny! Pathmark. The only thing it had going for it, IMO, was that it was open 24-hours. But those posts were not to prevent you from taking the carts to your car but to prevent the carts from being stolen. They were valuable to hoarders and those who combed the neighborhoods in search of return deposit cans and bottles. A profitable industry near my old neighborhood. LOL

[CFrance]

HaHa -- Too funny! Pathmark. The only thing it had going for it, IMO, was that it was open 24-hours. But those posts were not to prevent you from taking the carts to your car but to prevent the carts from being stolen. They were valuable to hoarders and those who combed the neighborhoods in search of return deposit cans and bottles. A profitable industry near my old neighborhood. LOL
Yes, I knew that was the real reason, but it hurt the customers the most!

I was in there one time, and there were no carts. Here comes a teenage floor-mopper, and he's wheeling his bucket around in a cart! I said "Gimme that cart!!!" He was going to fight me for it, but I won. Which is when I went home and told my husband I was becoming too East Coast aggressive!

[NotGolfer]

Byerly's in the Twin Cities hit the mark for me, when we lived there years ago. Lund's is another local one that's good as well. Hy Vee is making it's way into more markets but I think only in the midwest. At our house we eat to live, not live to eat.

[Nucky]

I never lived near a Wegmans. My nearest favorite was Fairway. Going to Wegmans was a special trip or a detour on the way to visit someone. I'm reliving fond memories, not stressing or suffering.

I hear you clearly. I would never take a shot at you never ever never. I respect you and love your sense of humor.

I was referring to the complaining about what we don't have instead of being grateful for what we do.

How about the cheese at Wegmans that the show like a Cake. I have no idea what it is but wow it was good.

Again sorry! :bigbow:

[Ecuadog]

I hear you clearly. I would never take a shot at you never ever never. I respect you and love your sense of humor.

I was referring to the complaining about what we don't have instead of being grateful for what we do.

How about the cheese at Wegmans that the show like a Cake. I have no idea what it is but wow it was good.

Again sorry! :bigbow:

No offense taken, Nucky. Just splain'n.

[GoodLife]

Wegmans is overpriced and overrated. Publix blows them away. I wonder what Wegmans paid for this review, you guys understand that all these top 10 review sites are a joke right?

PS NY pizza is undercooked droopy slop.

[graciegirl]

Wegmans is overpriced and overrated. Publix blows them away. I wonder what Wegmans paid for this review, you guys understand that all these top 10 review sites are a joke right?

PS NY pizza is undercooked droopy slop.

Holy cow! Next thing you'll say is that Cinderella hooked the prince by showing leg when he put on her shoe.

I think Wegmans must be all that and a bag of chips because anyone who has been in one has nothing but good stuff to say, the heck with the top ten review sites, I believe in word of mouth.


I might make a trip to Wegman's area to see for myself. I enjoy me a good grocery store. But then how would I get all the fresh stuff back to The Villages?

[BobnBev]

Holy cow! Next thing you'll say is that Cinderella hooked the prince by showing leg with he put on her shoe.

It must be true, I read it on the internet. :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[JSR22]

Wegmans is overpriced and overrated. Publix blows them away. I wonder what Wegmans paid for this review, you guys understand that all these top 10 review sites are a joke right?

PS NY pizza is undercooked droopy slop.

Publix does not come close to what is available in a Wegmans. The cheese shop, butcher with prime meats, seafood, salad bars, freshly prepared hot foods, asian bar, freshly made pizza and subs are all items not available at Publix. The bakery and bread shop are far superior to Publix. I never found them tobe over priced. Wegmans is opening stores in NC. I hope they continue further South.

[collie1228]

Wegmans is overpriced and overrated. Publix blows them away. I wonder what Wegmans paid for this review, you guys understand that all these top 10 review sites are a joke right?

PS NY pizza is undercooked droopy slop.

Tell us how you really feel! By the way, the data comes from Fortune Magazine, not a "top 10 review site". Fortune is generally recognized as a legitimate news and information source, not a joke. They state the following in their top 100 article: "Our list surveys millions of employees in more than 50 countries to better understand why people love their work and workplaces. It audits companies’ benefits and people programs and ensures that every demographic group in an organization rates them with high scores. And it grades companies on six components: values, innovation, financial growth, leadership effectiveness, maximizing human potential, and trust."

[tophcfa]

Have never been to a Wegmans, but based on everything I have read I would like to check one out. Up North in Western Mass we use The Big Y, Trader Joes, and Costco for bulk stuff. We used to use Stop and Shop, but they became a global conglomerate and went way downhill so we switched to Big Y. At the Villages we like Publix way more than Winn Dixxie and would say it compares very favorably with Big Y. I wish there was a golf cart accessable Trader Joes in the Villages.

[dewilson58]

Everyone has their Fav chain.

What makes them your Fav???........

Wide Isles
Lighting
Selection
Layout
Prices
Clean

What's important to you??

[2BNTV]

Everyone has their Fav chain.

What makes them your Fav???........

Wide Isles
Lighting
Selection
Layout
Prices
Clean

What's important to you??

All of the above. :D Especially clean!

When I went back to CT, I went into a Stop and Shop. Compared to Publix, I thought they hadn't paid their electric bill. It was much darker.

[GoodLife]

Holy cow! Next thing you'll say is that Cinderella hooked the prince by showing leg when he put on her shoe.

I think Wegmans must be all that and a bag of chips because anyone who has been in one has nothing but good stuff to say, the heck with the top ten review sites, I believe in word of mouth.


I might make a trip to Wegman's area to see for myself. I enjoy me a good grocery store. But then how would I get all the fresh stuff back to The Villages?


:1rotfl: Just kidding, whenever our resident Northeasters start waxing nostalgic about how great everything was up there I get the sudden urge to throw a spanner in the works.


PS Chicago pizza rules :a040:

[JSR22]

I am from the NE and went to college in Illinois. Honestly, the pizza in Peoria and Chicago was not very good. The doughy deep dish and the squares were not great.

[DangeloInspections]

This thread reminds me of the old rhyme or song, "Make new friends but keep the Old, one is silver and the other is Gold".

There are things I love and miss from up North, but there are also newer things I love living down here. Why can't someone acknowledge both without sounding like a Hypocrite? We are not.

I like Wegman's. I like Publix here. I am thankful that unlike many parts of the world, we have many places to get good food without any hardship.

I love the Fall up north. I love the Winter here. I miss the abundance of pizza and ice cream places up North. If I had to move back up North I would start missing things from down here.

Getting back to topic, I do think that Wegman's was a bit pricey, but sometimes I think Publix here is also. Generally in life you pay a bit more for amenities or extras. These higher tier stores carry more inventory, more choices, etc.

In the end, I think it is great that we have choices.....we can shop at Publix here, or to save money you can go to Walmart, Sav-a-Lot, Aldi's, Winn-Dixie, or a host of other options. What a great country we live in!

I think it is funny that up north we used to struggle pushing shopping carts through the snow and ice and potholes....and down here they actually ask if they can push your cart out to your car and load your bags in your trunk....THAT is what we needed up North!

We are all very blessed.....Frank

[Schaumburger]

:1rotfl: Just kidding, whenever our resident Northeasters start waxing nostalgic about how great everything was up there I get the sudden urge to throw a spanner in the works.


PS Chicago pizza rules :a040:

Chicago pizza rules -- you got that right. If Lou Malnati's opened a location in The Villages, the lines would be out the door I tell ya!

[Schaumburger]

I noticed Hy-Vee was ranked #10. Hy-Vee's are all over Iowa where I grew up. Fortunately my dad only lives about 1 mile from a very nice Hy-Vee store, which is a pleasure to shop at and very convenient for him to shop at. His credit union even has a branch inside his local store.

Hy-Vee's slogan for many years has been: "Hy-Vee, where there's a helpful smile in every aisle."