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

Kroger is synonymous with one-stop shopping, offering groceries, baked goods, in-store dining, wine and beer, and even a pharmacy. Shoppers love the enormous selection of items across several departments, as well as affordable pricing on high-quality house brands. Kroger Plus members enjoy even more savings with digital coupons and discounted fuel.

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." 

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.  

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. 

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.

Albertsons brings the convenience of a full-service supermarket together with the feel of a neighborhood grocery store. Shoppers can stock up on fresh produce, meat and seafood, bakery items, deli foods, pantry staples, floral arrangements, and pharmacy essentials. Adding extra ease to the weekly grocery run are digital deals, rewards, delivery, and DriveUp & Go pickup programs and services.

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. 

Over 80% of the products on the shelves at Europe-based Lidl are private label, which means shoppers are always finding new favorites from around the world. Peruse more than 3,500 products at any given time, including in-store baked goods, fresh flowers, and a sizable wine selection. The eco-conscious “bring your own bag” policy helps to keep prices low.

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 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 172 locations in 22 states with a focus on fresh produce and private label items.