The results will definitely come as a surprise
New Survey: This Is the Most Popular Grocery Store in the U.S. (Hint: Your First Guess Is Wrong!)
Published on Jan. 27, 2025
No matter where you live, what job you have or the size of your household, there is one errand we all have in common: grocery shopping. Grocery shopping is a joy for some and a chore for others, but there’s no denying that the store you choose plays a big role in your overall experience. So which one is the best grocery store in America? While that might be a bit subjective, a new study shows that there is one clear favorite grocery store in the United States.
Keep reading to find out which national chain can proudly call itself the most popular grocery store in America and which other well-known grocery stores made the list.
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How was the most popular grocery store determined?
YouGov, a firm that performs market search and analytics, took on the task of finding out which grocery store is most beloved across the country, which is no small feat. The firm interviewed 1,220 people who live in the United States during the months of October, November and December 2024, focusing on two key factors: brand recognition, or “Fame,” and positive opinion of the brand, or “Popularity.” After analyzing all of the responses, there was a clear winner, and it might surprise you.
What’s the most popular grocery store in the U.S.?
Believe it or not, 7-Eleven earned the title of the most popular grocery store in the United States. The national chain, perhaps best known for its Slurpees, fared the best in YouGov’s survey, with 97% Fame and 65% Popularity. Only 8% of survey participants had a negative opinion of the grocery chain, while 24% had a neutral opinion, making it the overall winner.
But wait, isn’t 7-Eleven a convenience store?
If you’re scratching your head and asking yourself, “But is 7-Eleven even a grocery store?” you are most definitely not alone. While 7-Eleven doesn’t carry anywhere near the same variety of grocery items as traditional grocery stores, it does carry snacks, drinks and plenty of take-away options, including sandwiches, pizza and nachos. Some 7-Eleven locations, called Evolution stores even have fancier options, like wine, craft beers and in-store restaurants. Does that make 7-Eleven any more like a regular grocery store? Not really. But it does explain why so many people love the national chain.
What other grocery stores ranked in the top three?
While 7-Eleven may have been the undeniable winner, a few other grocery stores were hot on its heels. Trader Joe’s came in second place with 94% Fame and 64% Popularity, an impressive feat considering Trader Joe’s has just over 600 stores across the United States compared to 7-Eleven’s 9,000-plus locations. And Whole Foods came in third, with 95% Fame and 61% Popularity, so it’s really neck and neck within those top three spots. It’s safe to say that 7-Eleven shouldn’t get too comfortable with its No. 1 position.
What other grocery stores are in the top 20?
There are dozens of grocery chains throughout the United States, and the one you love most is often closely tied to where you live. Keeping that in mind, check out the other grocery stores that earned the top 20 spots in YouGov’s latest survey to see if your favorite store made the cut.
- 7-Eleven
- Trader Joe’s
- Whole Foods Market
- Aldi
- Kroger
- Circle K
- Publix
- Fresh Market
- Safeway
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Piggly Wiggly
- Save-A-Lot
- Winn-Dixie
- Amazon Fresh
- Albertsons
- Food Lion
- Meijer
- IGA
- Food 4 Less
- Giant
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Source:
- YouGov: “The most popular grocery stores (Q4 2024)”
