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Wegmans, Publix, Harps make Newsweek’s America’s Best Retailers list

Supermarkets, mass merchants, pharmacies, convenience stores among 39 retail categories ranked

Russell Redman

May 17, 2022

3 Min Read
Newsweek 2022 Americas Best Retailers-Wegmans-Publix.jpg
Wegmans Food Markets and Publix Super Markets came in first and second, respectively, in the supermarkets category in Newsweek's annual retailer ranking.Wegmans/Publix

Wegmans Food Markets, Publix Super Markets and Harps Food Stores garnered the top ratings for supermarkets in Newsweek’s 2022 America’s Best Retailers list.

Wegmans ranked first in the supermarket category with a score of 92.25, followed in the top five by Publix at 91.67, Harps at 89.62, Sprouts Farmers Market at 88.38 and Whole Foods Market at 87.67, according to this year’s Newsweek Best Retailers list.

In all, 13 grocery store chains made the list in two categories: supermarkets and discount supermarkets. Rounding out the 10 retailers in the supermarkets segment were Fresh Thyme Market at a score of 87.49 (No. 6), The Fresh Market at 87.39 (No. 7), WinCo Foods at 87.03 (No. 8), Kroger at 86.14 (No. 9) and Earth Fare at 85.21 (No. 10).

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Leading the three discount supermarket chains on the Newsweek list was Trader Joe’s, with a score of 89.06, followed by 99 Cents Only Stores at 85.95 and Aldi at 84.63.

“We pride ourselves on providing our customers with a pleasurable shopping experience,  from knowledgeable, friendly associates and quality products to a convenient and clean shopping environment. Being named a ‘best retailer’ is a testament to our philosophy of treating customers like royalty,” Maria Brous, director of communications at Publix, said in a statement. Overall, Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix operates 1,295 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

Related:Kroger, Sprouts, Publix recognized for loyalty programs

Based on a survey of more than 10,000 U.S. consumers who have shopped in-person inside retail stores in the past three years, Newsweek’s 2022 America’s Best Retailers list ranks companies according to five criteria — products, customer service, atmosphere, accessibility and shop layout — and the likelihood of respondent to recommend a retailer to friends and family. Overall, over 150,000 evaluations were collected on retailers in 39 categories. The top three to 10 retailers (based on category size) receiving the highest scores in each category were recognized as America’s Best Retailers for 2022.

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Big-box grocery retailers also made Newsweek’s list in the superstores and warehouse clubs category. They were led by Costco Wholesale with a score of 88.05, Target at 86.55, Sam’s Club at 86.31, BJ’s Wholesale Club at 85.88 and Meijer at 85.87.

Leading grocers, too, were ranked in the list’s pharmacies and drugstores segment. They included Good Neighbor Pharmacy at No. 1 (score of 88.11), Giant Eagle Pharmacy at No. 2 (84.81), Walgreens at No. 3 (84.54), Walmart Pharmacy at No. 4 (84.50), and CVS Pharmacy at No. 5 (83.53).

Related:Walmart, Kroger rank as most-trusted U.S. grocery retailers

Wawa came in first in the America’s Best Retailers convenience store category, rating at a score of 89.87. Next up were sheetz at 88.30, Thorntons at 87.47, QuikTip at 86.91 and Pilot Flying J at 84.68.

“Over the last few years, a funny thing happened to brick-and-mortar retailing. It didn’t die. Not only that, it appears to be thriving as American retailing continues its recovery from the pandemic,” Newsweek Global Editor In Chief Nancy Cooper wrote in the 2022 America’s Best Retailers report. “All of which means, the experience of shopping in a store — the ability to touch and try different products in real life, to get sales help and advice, to enjoy the experience of browsing — is something customers still want and value.”

In total, 195 retailers were recognized on this year’s list. Other retail categories included department stores, apparel, footwear, fashion/accessories, jewelry, beauty, pet care, bookstores, consumer electronics, home goods, home improvement, toys, sporting goods and auto supplies, among others.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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