10 best grocery stores in the US that you need to check out

A family company since 1916, Wegmans Food Markets has a roster of over 100 stores in nine states catering to a range of budgets. Devotees like the chain's prepared foods, one-stop shopping, seasonal fare, and its charitable community outreach programs.  

Publix has grown from a single store in 1930 to the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Known for its clean, bright stores and friendly staff, in addition to a wide range of high-quality products catering to different tastes and dietary needs, Publix stands out as a supermarket that prioritizes customer satisfaction.

Heinen's Grocery Store is a popular choice for many shoppers because of the quality and variety of products on offer, from fresh produce and bakery items to specialty foods and prepared meals. Add in friendly service and their Tasteful Rewards program and you've got a family-owned regional chain that's a bona fide grocery shopping destination.

How many other grocery stores can claim their own fan clubs? Consumers love Aldi's no-frills shopping that results in affordable prices, its large supply of fresh fruits and vegetables that are restocked every day, and the store's liberal return policy called the “Twice As Nice Guarantee.” Just be sure to bring your quarter for the cart and your own shopping bags. 

Found in Southern California, Gelson's Markets wow shoppers with spacious aisles and high-quality produce and meat departments. With more than 25 stores from Calabasas to West Hollywood, don't be surprised if you see a celebrity or two picking up a plant-based dinner for two, a bouquet of lilies, and some organic olives. 

Founded as a small dairy store in 1969, Stew Leonard's is now known as the world's largest dairy store as well as a great grocer offering meats, fish, produce, baked goods, cheese, and wine. Its on-site costumed characters, entertainment, and animatronics led The New York Times to call Stew Leonard's the "Disneyland of dairy stores." 

Natural Grocers is a community-focused grocery destination that helps shoppers make informed, healthy choices for themselves and the planet. The stores stock 100% organic produce, pasture-based dairy, and antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. Customers can take advantage of free nutrition classes, disposable bag-free checkouts, and "Always Affordable Pricing." Organic bulk products, like seeds, nuts and flours, are refrigerated for freshness and even frozen items feature organic grass-fed meats, antibiotic-free poultry, and organic vegetables and fruits. 

Fresh Thyme stores offer a bright, uncluttered shopping experience with shelves brimming with fragrant herbs and aromatic freshly-ground coffee, plus colorful produce and just-cut meats. The brand partners with nearby farms and producers to bring shoppers sustainable goods and a large variety of all-natural and organic foods. Grind up some fresh peanut or cashew butter and fill a bag with saltwater taffy, fresh nuts, dried fruit, granola, beans, and chocolates in the bulk area. 

Employee-owned Hy-Vee's slogan is "a helpful smile in every aisle," and you'll find those grins in more than 280 stores across the Midwest. Hy-Vee works with farmers to provide locally grown fruits and vegetables, and many of the locations offer food counters with colossal salad bars and items like meatloaf, Asian food, pizza, and fried chicken. 

The original Fresh Market was inspired by the food markets of Europe — a place where shoppers could have a more intimate and personalized experience than the warehouse-style supermarkets of the time. The Fresh Market now operates 166 locations in 22 states with a focus on fresh produce and private label items.