Consumer Reports says this is the fourth straight survey where Wegmans, Trader Joe's and Publix have been at the top of the rankings, while Walmart, Pathmark (Northeast) and Shaw's have been near the bottom. Consumer Reports conducted the surveys in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014. On a 100-point scale, Wegmans scored 88 and Trader Joe's scored 87.
In its Supermarket Buying Guide article, Consumer Reports writes the following: "Among the top stores were national grocers Costco (the no-frills warehouse club that offers great deals if you're willing to buy in bulk), Trader Joe's (a limited-assortment store that specializes in store brands and unusual goods), and Whole Foods (focusing on perishables, organics, and service), as well as regional players such as Wegmans (East), Publix (South), and survey newcomer Sprouts Farmers Markets (in eight Western states), which showcases fresh and whole-grain food."
Shoppers did have gripes, with the biggest being not enough open checkouts
Here are the top grocery shopping complaints:
- Not enough open checkouts
- Congested or cluttered aisles
- Out-of-stock advertised specials
- Inept bagging
- Missing prices
- Scanner overcharges
Source: wtop.com
