For as much as people complain about grocery shopping, there are many who show the love for food stores that get it right. We've heard people speak in glowing terms when they discuss particular stores including Dorothy Lane Market, Gelson's, Harris Teeter, H-E-B's Central Market, Lunds, Mariano's, Nugget Markets, Publix, Rouses, Wegmans, Whole Foods and others.
A case in point is Arielle Calderon. She really likes Publix. In fact, as she writes on the BuzzFeed site, it is about the only thing she misses since moving to New York City where, alas, there are no Publix stores.
Why does Ms. Calderon think Publix is "the best grocery store to ever exist"? Her list includes the chain's sub sandwiches, cookies, chicken tenders, store cleanliness, private label products, BOGO deals and other reasons.
Not all agree with Ms. Calderon's decision to place Publix on a pedestal. A piece in the Miami New Times takes Publix to task for "claustrophobia-inducing aisles" at one local store, along with poor seafood practices and other shortcomings.
But the point of this piece isn't to focus on Publix. It's to ask, what company really does run the best grocery store in the U.S.?