A recent study from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) indicates that aside from some bright spots in some key metrics, customer satisfaction with supermarkets overall has not gotten any better in the last year.
On a 100-point scale, the average overall score of 76 for supermarket customer satisfaction remains unchanged from a year ago, according to the ACSI’s Retail and Consumer Shipping Study 2021-2022.
The study is based on email interviews with 36,517 customers who were contacted between January 11 and December 20, 2021, and asked to evaluate their recent experiences with companies.
What Is the #1 Supermarket in America?
With an 85/100 score, Trader Joe’s comes in at the top spot in this year’s study for the second consecutive year, bettering its previous score by 1%.
Here are some key findings from the report:
- With a 6% jump in its score (76), Giant Eagle shows the largest improvement on the list compared to the previous year.
- Southeastern Grocers, the company that owns Winn-Dixie, Fresco and Harveys, earned the next-largest hike. Its 3% increase in the ACSI survey brings it up to a score of 75.
- Although the quality and reliability of store apps garnered the largest increase (from 79 to 82), several industry metrics — including store cleanliness, variety of merchandise selection and checkout speed — all saw increased scores from last year.
Let’s look at the top U.S. supermarkets for customer satisfaction according to the ACSI report:
| Company | 2021 ACSI Score | % Change From Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| Trader Joe’s | 85 | 1% |
| H-E-B | 82 | 0% |
| Aldi | 81 | 1% |
| Costco | 81 | -1% |
| Wegmans | 81 | -1% |
| Publix | 80 | -2% |
| Sam’s Club (Walmart) | 79 | -1% |
| BJ’s Wholesale Club | 78 | 0% |
| Hy-Vee | 77 | -1% |
| Kroger | 77 | 1% |
| Average of All Stores in Survey | 76 | 0.0% |
Read ACSI’s Retail and Consumer Shipping Study 2021-2022.
How To Save Money at the Supermarket
Food prices are expected to increase, according to the latest market summary from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So how can you save?
Compare Prices
Don’t just go to your local supermarket and pick up the first item you need. Take a moment to comparison shop either before you get to the store or online. Clark always wants you to compare prices between stores to find the best deal.
Here are some grocery apps that can save you money.
Resist Brand Loyalty
When it comes to brands, be flexible. Brand loyalty can hurt your wallet.
Shop store brands, which are typically cheaper than the name brands.
For example, one gallon of Borden Vitamin D milk at Walmart costs $5.48. That same quantity under the store’s Great Value brand costs $3.63 (prices good as of April 7, 2022).
Shop With a Cash Back Credit Card
One of the easiest ways to save money while grocery shopping is to make your purchases with a cash back credit card.
One example of such a card is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which lets you earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). The cash back is earned in statement credit. Terms apply.
Here are the best cash back credit cards.
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following links: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: See Rates and Fees
Want more strategies? Here are 20+ ways to save on groceries.
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