Why Do Shoppers Prefer Trader Joe's, Kwik Trip, and Sam's Club Over Competitors?

In a large data array provided by the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) in 2026, the retail categories of convenience stores, supermarkets, online retailers, specialty retailers, general merchandise retailers, and gas stations were examined.

The primary concern?

Which brands or companies dominated each slice of the broader retail business this year and the year prior, with several standouts being worth a mention.

According to the data:

• General merchandise retailers: This category was lead by Sam's Club (at a score of 83), with a catch-all "all others" category tying with Kroger (scoring 82) for second place. On the third step of the podium were TJX, Costco, and Meijer, each attaining a score of 81.
• Supermarkets: Trader Joe's enjoyed a healthy lead here, snagging a score of 86 and breaking last year's tie with Publix. Publix did manage to hang on to second place (at 84), followed by H-E-B (83), Sam's Club (82), and Whole Foods (81).
• Online retailers: No surprises here, or maybe just one -- Amazon took the top position (82), but so did Nordstrom (82) and Chewy (82). All others got pegged at a score of 80, while Macy's and Costco trailed just behind, each at 79.
• C-stores: Kwik Trip took command in this category, notching a score of 84. Wawa and Sheetz managed a nearly-as-respectable 82 points, followed by QuikTrip (80), Love's (79), and Buc-ee's (79).

Still, it appears that American grocery shoppers may be raising the bar when it comes to their standards of what constitutes proper service, particularly in grocery.

"The index is one of the longest-running consumer benchmarks in the country, and its methodology hasn't changed significantly since launch, so year-over-year comparisons carry real meaning. American satisfaction with supermarkets dipped 1% this year to an average score of 78, and only three of the 19 chains tracked improved their scores compared with 2025," Food & Wine writer Stephanie Gravalese noted, pivoting to add that one particular eyebrow-raising entry on the lower side -- Walmart, despite its massive increase in market share as wealthier shoppers trade down -- made waves in the data.

"Walmart's score is more surprising, but it may be thanks to consumer interest in chains with a smaller, more regional feel, which Trader Joe’s delivers even on a national scale. A search through customer reviews online makes it clear why Giant Eagle fell to the bottom of the ACSI’s ratings: Shoppers widely report that the chain keeps raising prices," Gravalese added.