Trader Joe's ranks tops in grocery-store study

Trader Joe's ranks as America's favorite grocery store, according to a national study.

This is the third year in a row that the Monrovia, Calif.-based chain has been ranked at No. 1 spot.

The reason? Trader Joe's continues to build a loyal following with its diverse grocery selection and friendly service, stated the study, which was conducted in April with 7,200 U.S. consumers by Market Force Information, a customer intelligence solutions company based in Louisville, Colo.

The study was designed to uncover consumers' grocery-shopping habits, including why they prefer one to another and how they engage with various grocers. Participants were asked to rate their satisfaction with their most recent grocery shopping experience at 14 grocers and the likelihood that they would refer that grocer to others. Only some of the 14 grocers are in metro Phoenix.

"In the fiercely competitive grocery industry, customer satisfaction is the one measure that can tell you if you're delivering on your brand promise or falling short," said Cheryl Flink, chief strategy officer for Market Force, in a company press release.

"Our research revealed that one in eight shoppers were disappointed with their most recent visit to their primary grocer, leaving ample room for improvement," she said. "This is especially impactful when you consider that delighted customers are 2.4 times more likely to recommend their grocer to others."

According to the study, Publix Super Markets ranked second. Aldi, Hy-Vee and H-E-B rounded out the top five.

Costco came in sixth, followed by Kroger, ShopRite, WinCo Foods, Meijer, Albertsons, Sam's Club, Safeway and Walmart. Kroger owns and operates Fry's Food Stores in Arizona.

Regarding chains with stores in Arizona:

-- WinCo Foods ranked second, Costco third, Sam's Club fourth and Trader Joe's fifth in value.

-- Kroger ranked third in good sales and promotions.

-- Trader Joe's ranked first and Albertsons fourth in cashier courtesy.

-- Trader Joe's ranked second, Kroger third and Albertsons sixth in fast checkouts.

-- Trader Joe's ranked second, Costco third and Safeway sixth in cleanliness.

-- Kroger ranked second, Trader Joe's fifth and Albertsons sixth in availability of items.

-- Trader Joe's ranked second and Kroger third in ease of finding items.

-- Albertsons ranked fourth, Costco fifth and Trader Joe's sixth in specialty department service.

Consumers and grocery-buying habits

Market Force Information's survey of 7,200 Americans also included questions about their grocery-buying habits.

The study found that:

-- Organic products are popular. Nearly have of the respondents prefer to buy organic products when given a choice. Produce is the most popular organic item.

-- Prepared entrees and sides are getting more popular among time-crunched shoppers. About 28 percent of shoppers said they had purchased prepared meals from a grocer at least weekly in the past month, a 10 percent increase from 2014's findings.

-- Mobile apps are gaining traction. Nearly 40 percent of shoppers have used a grocery app, primarily to obtain coupons and scan bar codes, and seldom to build lists or research nutritional facts.

-- Click-and-collect services, in which shoppers order online and pick up their order curbside, are still being tested by shoppers. Only 5 percent had tried the service.

-- The printed circular remains popular and nearly half the consumers review once a week, with many shoppers reviewing them more often.

-- The circulars are influence where and how consumers shop. Four in five of those who use circulars said they plan their shopping trips based on what is in them.

Source:Market Force Solutions

Reach the reporter at sue.doerfler@arizonarepublic.com.