2 of America’s Best Supermarkets Have Locations in Michigan

What makes for a great supermarket?

Is it the variety of products you'll find? Is it value or customer service? Is it the ease of shopping there? All of the above?

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What Causes Us to Shop Where We Shop?

Research published by Market Force Information shows the majority of us regularly shop at at least 3 different grocery stores. That's true in Michigan and across the country.

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But what makes us decide where to shop? There are a variety of factors, but these are the top 5:

• Convenient location
• Value for our money
• Good sales and promotions
• Variety of merchandise and selections
• Fast checkout

What Do the Top "Best in Class" Grocery Stores Have in Common?

The best grocery stores have checkouts that rate highly, and offer good value for the consumer dollar. Customers also have positive attitudes toward their meat, dairy, fresh produce, fish/seafood, and prepared foods departments.

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Several supermarket chains with locations in Michigan land within the study's Top 30 "Best in Class" grocery stores.

Here's how they stack up:

27. Sam's Club

Sam's Club ranks 27th in the nation among "Best in Class" supermarkets, which puts it 7th among grocery stores with at least one location in Michigan.

26. Meijer

This study rates Meijer as 6th among grocery stores with at least one location in Michigan, coming in at #26 overall.

25. Kroger

Kroger is one of the nation's grocery giants. It's 5th among Michigan grocery stores, and 25th in the nation.

20. Aldi

Among the grocery stores that are considered "Best in Class", Aldi ranks 20th overall, and 4th among stores with at least one location in Michigan.

12. Whole Foods

Whole Foods almost made the Top 10, but not quite - it ranks #12 among the nation's "Best in Class" grocery stores. That's good enough for 3rd in Michigan.

6. Costco

Love Costco? You're not alone. Costco ranks 6th in the nation, and 2nd in Michigan.

4. Trader Joe's

The highest rated grocery experience in Michigan is Trader Joe's. It's 4th in the nation, behind only Publix (3), H-E-B (2), and Wegman's (1) - none of which have locations in Michigan.