Publix Was Just Dethroned As America's Top Grocery Store By This Iconic Chain

Publix, where shopping is a pleasure ... or at least it used to be. While the popular Florida-based chain once ranked as the nation's top grocery store for customer satisfaction, Publix has been dethroned. According to the latest report by the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Trader Joe's now reigns in the hearts of American shoppers. In 2025, the two rivals tied for first place with a satisfaction score of 84. But while Publix maintained its score in the 2026 report, Trader Joe's managed to move up to sole possession of first place by increasing its score by two points. The chain is also the most trusted grocery store in the country, so its rise seems almost inevitable.

The report analyzed different factors in its survey, including the convenience of opening hours, the number of store locations, and the ease of pickup for groceries ordered online. Cleanliness, the speed of the checkout process, and the reliability of the mobile app were other benchmarks that were studied. The report doesn't fully break down the score that grocery stores received for each benchmark, so it is impossible to tell where Trader Joe's excelled and where it fell short. However, the study report stated that TJ's No. 1 ranking is significant considering the chain continues to expand the number of locations, which can affect consistency in customer service. "Instead, Trader Joe's maintains its hallmark customer experience, reinforcing its strong brand loyalty even amid growth," according to the report.

H-E-B and Sam's Club came in third and fourth place with respective scores of 83 and 82. Aldi, Costco, and Whole Foods tied for fifth place with a score of 81.

First founded in 1930, Publix is a household name and a trusted brand. Trader Joe's came into the game 37 years later. Both have done fairly well for themselves, expanding their franchises and becoming national chains. So, why is Trader Joe's overtaking Publix in customer satisfaction? Both brands seem to do well in the benchmark factors that customers value. They're clean, have many store locations, and have convenient operating hours. More importantly, they're both known for having high-quality products.

Today's customers, however, are increasingly worried about inflation, which is expected to keep grocery prices rising. This is where Trader Joe's has Publix beat. While the older brand has a reputation for selling overpriced items, TJ's is known for stocking unique products at good deals that don't come with compromised quality. Perhaps this is why the brand has a cult following. There are social media accounts solely dedicated to rating the chain's items, and Reddit threads whose purpose is to discuss which are the must-buy Trader Joe's items. In short, TJ's customers may feel like they're getting a great deal, while Publix customers leave the store feeling like they could've gotten lower prices if they'd just gone elsewhere.

But the difference between the two brands' satisfaction scores is not large. If Trader Joe's wants to keep its crown, it will have to continue providing excellent service and fix some of the things customers hate about it — without raising its prices.