This Is the Most Trusted Grocery Store, According to 35,000 Shoppers

When it comes to grocery shopping, convenience and location are big factors when figuring out where to go. But many customers will also travel out of their way if a store offers a better selection of products, greater customer service, lower prices, and if a shopper can consistently rely on a grocer for a good experience that builds brand loyalty.

To identify which brands, including major grocery store chains, shoppers trust the most, BrandSpark International conducted a survey of 35,215 U.S. shoppers, in partnership with Newsweek.

This year, respondents provided feedback across 359 categories, such as baby & kids, home goods, household & cleaning, services, and more, including 25 awards for grocery stores, to determine the 2026 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards.

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Since grocery chains can vary widely by region, the research and consulting firm hands out awards across a number of different categories, including winners in specific divisions such as Best Discount Supermarket (South), Best Discount Supermarket (Northeast), Conventional Supermarket (non-discount, Midwest), and Best Grocery Store for Customer Service.

Walmart earned more wins than any other chain, receiving 12 awards including those for best customer service and private-label products. The retailer was also named the most trusted superstore in every U.S. region.

Aldi received the second most wins overall, with eight regional ones concentrated in the Midwest, Northeast, and South, while grocery giant Kroger came in third overall, taking first place in the Conventional Supermarket (non-discount, Midwest) and second in several other categories such as customer service and private-label products.