Trader Joe’s surpasses Publix in customer satisfaction ranking

Core Insights - Trader Joe's has achieved the highest customer satisfaction score among grocery retailers, with a score of 86, surpassing Publix, which scored 84 for the second consecutive year [2][3] Group 1: Company Performance - Trader Joe's score increased by 2% year over year, reflecting its successful national expansion despite potential operational strains [2][3] - H-E-B was the only other grocer in the top 10 to improve its score, rising from 82 to 83 [2] - Save A Lot showed the largest year-over-year improvement, increasing its score from 75 to 78 [3][4] Group 2: Competitor Analysis - Publix maintained its position but did not improve, scoring 84 for the second year [2] - Wegmans experienced a significant drop in satisfaction, falling from 83 to 78, attributed to financial pressures and operational complexities [5] - Other top competitors like Sam's Club, Whole Foods, ShopRite, and Target all saw a 1% decline in their scores [2] Group 3: Regional Performance - Sam's Club led the South with a regional score of 84, outperforming its national score of 82 [7] - Aldi ranked first in the Midwest, followed by Hy-Vee and Meijer, both scoring 78 [6] - Trader Joe's retained the top position in the West with a score of 87, a 4% increase year over year [7] Group 4: Customer Satisfaction Trends - Overall customer satisfaction ratings improved in several categories from 2025 to 2026, including store hours (85), pickup process (85), and mobile app reliability (85) [8] - Categories such as staff courtesy and checkout speed also saw increases, indicating a positive trend in customer experiences across the board [8]