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- This Texas-based grocery chain is the best in the U.S., according to a new report (the-independent.com)
Texas Grocer H-E-B Takes Top Spot Amid Shifting Consumer Landscape
For the fifth time in nine years, Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B has been named the top grocery retailer in the United States, according to Dunnhumby’s ninth annual Retailer Preference Index. The San Antonio-headquartered operator, with 430 to 450 stores primarily in Texas and Mexico, secured the No. 1 spot in the assessment of over 80 national and regional supermarket brands.
This year’s ranking highlights a significant shift in the grocery landscape, with regional chains dominating the top three for the first time in the RPI’s history. New England’s Market Basket claimed second place for the second time, while Wisconsin’s Woodman’s made its debut in the top tier at third.
Rounding out the top ten were Costco, Aldi, WinCo Foods, Trader Joe’s, Amazon, Wegmans, and ShopRite. Notable shifts included Amazon slipping two spots and Sam’s Club dropping six, as their digital edge, once a strong advantage, reportedly lost some of its impact in 2025. Neither secured top-tier rankings for price, promotions, rewards, or quality.
The report underscores the evolving priorities of shoppers amidst economic uncertainty. Dunnhumby’s Consumer Trends Tracker reveals that 56% of Americans cannot cover a $400 emergency, a figure that has worsened since December 2024. Furthermore, 58 million Americans are experiencing food insecurity, a number exceeding the population of Canada.
Matt O’Grady, President of the Americas for Dunnhumby, commented on the findings: “2025 threw a lot of curveballs at the U.S. consumer. Shopper confidence dropped as concerns about higher prices, fewer job opportunities, and stagnant wages eroded purchasing power.
Consumers across all income levels are feeling the squeeze and making more price-conscious choices. In this environment, building trust with American shoppers has never been more critical.”
The Dunnhumby RPI uniquely evaluates grocers by combining financial performance data with customer perception gathered from over 11,000 U.S. grocery shoppers. Key drivers of customer value include price, promotions and rewards, quality, digital, operations, and speed and convenience.
The analysis also found that U.S. consumers prioritize saving money on groceries more than their international peers, a trend attributed to higher rates of basic needs insecurity. Additionally, the study noted a convergence of quality and value in the retail sector, with savings-focused retailers like Walmart and Aldi narrowing the quality perception gap with traditional competitors while maintaining their price advantage. This makes quality a crucial competitive differentiator alongside affordability in attracting and retaining shoppers.
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- This Texas-based grocery chain is the best in the U.S., according to a new report (the-independent.com)