7 Worst and 7 Best US Grocery Stores in 2026
Video Overview & Insights
The food industry has a playbook. Now you do too.
I’ve been to wegmanns once. Far too expensive, around 50-60 percent more expensive for standard stuff like and all that stuff
For years, food companies have used misleading labels, shrinking portions, fake health claims, and pricing tricks to quietly take more of your money. Most people never notice.
One Up on the Food Industry: How to Beat the Traps After 50 gives you the tools to see through the deception, protect your wallet, and make smarter choices every time you shop or eat out.
Well we already had ALDI's but some how we are getting Trader Joes - it located right behind aldi it's sister's backyard - i call it sister because basically in their history they where owned by the some family.
105 pages of practical tactics, insider tricks, and consumer-defense strategies.
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I alternate every 2 weeks or so, Aldi, Costco and Trader Joe’s…
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One of America's most beloved grocery chains just started scanning customers' faces at the door — and that's not even the worst thing on this list.
Y'all got number one RIGHT! H HEB is the best!
Most Americans assume grocery stores are basically the same.
Familiar aisles, familiar brands, and a weekly bill that somehow keeps getting bigger.
I used to shop at Safeway. I don't aim more because it's way overpriced. I prefer harris teeter.The staff are credibly nice there, as well as helpful
But when you start comparing what major grocery chains are actually doing — with your food, your prices, and now your face — the differences between them become impossible to ignore.
Some of these chains are overcharging customers on nearly half of all visits. Others have been caught skimming delivery tips, stocking expired food, and draining pension funds while paying out billion-dollar dividends to Wall Street.
Costco is outstanding, I've never been disappointed there. Also like Trader Joe's and Grocery outlet to roundout my goto Grocery picks.
And then there are the chains where the cashier might be a millionaire — because they own the company. Where the CEO personally wrote a check to flood victims. Where growth was deliberately slowed so customer service wouldn't suffer.
Once you see the full picture, you'll never walk into a grocery store the same way again.
When I lived in San Diego, I would buy my steaks from Ralph’s, they had the best taste and steaks in the world. When I moved to Chicago, I would purchase my steaks at Kroger, was is owned by Ralph’s. Now I live in Texas and was pleased that I could continue to buy good taste and steaks at Kroger‘s. For some reason, Kroger’s have changed their beef. I can no longer buy great taste and steaks, pot roast, or pork chops at Kroger‘s. I don’t know what happened, but I sure hope they go back to the old vendors that they purchased their meet at before.
In this video, you'll discover:
- Which chains have been caught overcharging, understaffing, and cutting corners on food quality
Albertson always overcharge and runs out of sales item all the time !
- Which ones are genuinely delivering value, transparency, and something that looks like loyalty to their customers
- The private equity extraction story most shoppers have no idea is funding their grocery bills
Quite frankly, I view the comment that produced sizes at Costco are too large for the average "small" family to be unsubstantiated. I lshop for just three - me, myself & I. And I shop there once or twice a month. I buy a wide range of ifood tems there. Rotisserie chicken, bread, coffee, and all manner of canned and bottled items, Just about every food category. So what if the "Chosen" brand spray Avocado oil or loaves of bread come in two packs. There are a few particularly perishable produce items that are sold in packaging too large for my single person menu. I don't buy eggs there. Not because of the package size but because I can go to a nearby "egg store" and get a better deal. I also go beyond the 2-3 pound (re)package of ground beef on display and ask for the 10# chub. Back home, I portion that out into 10 - 1# patties with 8 of those going into my freezer.
- And exactly what to do — and what to avoid — at every single chain on this list
The most surprising part?
Love the non-edible finds at Aldi but I keep hearing about how the food is good quality as though I am trying to be convinced of it. I have been to many stores in various cities and rarely ever find actual fresh produce that is not rotting with gnats flying around it. My experience has been that Winco is better than Walmart for prices. Trader Joe's was amazing when it was just a few stores in Cali. Now the frozen meals are beginning to fail significantly. What is inside is not even close to the photo on the packaging lately and the quality has gone way down. HEB is King for Texans.
One of the chains that spent decades on every "best in America" list just ended up on the worst half. And one regional chain that most of the country has never heard of has beaten every national brand five times in nine years.
If you want to know where your grocery money actually goes — and where it's actually respected — this is the video.
I won't go to Walmart (EVER!) or Aldis, but love Albertsons, Safeway and when I lived in Florida for 16 years, Publix. So some of your worsts and bests .... but it really depends on the location. My very favorite tho is Trader Joe's ... the employees are soooo helpful and ... happy!
📺 Watch the full breakdown to see every chain ranked.
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Worked at Costco for 27 years. If I didn’t love working there…I would have left long ago. I have an amazing crew working in receiving. I was asked, “How do I get into receiving”? I replied…”I either die or retire”. That’s at least 7 more years. Haha
🔥 Watch Next:
► 5 Worst and 5 Best Grocery Chains For Seniors
I see molded foods in other grocery stores ,whole foods whole paycheck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPHy-Dacb5g
This video covers topics including grocery store rankings, worst grocery chains in America, best grocery stores 2026, grocery store price gouging, private equity and grocery stores, Walmart food quality, Kroger overcharging, Safeway complaints, Wegmans facial recognition, ALDI savings tips, Costco worker pay, WinCo employee ownership, Publix vs ALDI prices, Market Basket Arthur T Demoulas, Trader Joe's satisfaction ranking, HEB Texas grocery store, and consumer protection for grocery shoppers.
I haven't been to a Trader Joe's since I discovered Lidl on March 8 of this year. Why? Lidl's prices are sometimes 50% lower: 1/2 gal. milk @ Lidl - $1.55; TJ's recently raised its price to $2.99; 24 oz. loaf whole wheat multi-grain bread $2.89 Lidl; TJ's $3.49; X-Large eggs @ Lidl $1.65/dozen; TJ's $3.49, etc. TJ's lovers: deal with the long snaking-through-the-store-lines & Joe's REFUSES to install express lanes, claiming they're "too confusing," knock yourselves out - meanwhile, with its self serve check-outs, I'm in and out of Lidl in a flash!
About In Plain Bite
📺 Videos exploring the reality behind major food chains, grocery stores, and restaurant brands.
Lidl, Lidl, Lidl came to my nabe in late winter this year; they have pre-Covid prices, and the food turns over so fast, it's always fresh! If there's no Lidl near you, ask for one!
From surprising menu differences to hidden industry practices, we break down the details most customers never notice.
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A Publix just opened near me. Since then I don't go to Walmart and the BOGO at Publix is saving me hundreds of dollars. If you're on a fixed income there's always something you can use on the sale week. I never shop anywhere else now and get great quality as a plus! Publix can be expensive, but if you know how to shop it can be the most economical way to go.
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DISCLAIMER
I absolutely love Trader Joe's. I just wish I didn't have to drive about 25 minutes to get to one. I used to live nearby 2 of them.
Our videos reflect our opinions based on publicly available information. They are meant to entertain, not to advise. Always conduct your own research before making any decisions.
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FYI~ "Cerberus" is the name of a mythical beast that guards the gates of hell.
When last I looked they were based out of Canada.
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Publix #1
#GroceryStore #FoodInvestigation #ConsumerProtection
The Trader Joe’s in Everett, WA moved to where Sears used to be at Everett Mall - plenty of parking! They used to be down the street with a tiny shared parking lot.
More User Perspectives
HEB is definitely deserves to be at the top. They have the best selection of foods, great prices and good quality groceries. I still shop at other stores like Trader Joe’s and Aldi, but HEB is hands down the best. They also owned Central Market which is upscale grocery store that is much better than Whole Foods.
@olgasanford7173Trader Joes food is poison. HEB is way better quality choices.
@deniseb222I am an employee at one of the chains on the worst list. I really love my store, and we have so many amazing locations. Everyone should shop their preferred stores. We have so many amazing customers. I’m glad they choose us. If we could choose, we’d choose them, too!
@dalebailey754PLEASE DO A CHECK ON HANNAFORD & SHAWS IN NEW ENGLAND !! we're being ripped off daily by these guys !!!
@FredFarkel13Sister live in Massachusetts, Market basket is the best supermarket I've been to. Wish the would open one where I live. I shop at Trader Joes but I like Market basket even more.
@StanHasselbackHarris Teeter by me always has wrong prices on their shelf so much so that when I tell a clerk they don't even call for a price check. It's right next to my house but I usually drive to Trader Joe's instead.. You should always check it's that bad.
@StanHasselbackWe have been shopping at Kroger for some ten years now and a couple of observations: They have the most convoluted and archaic checkout self-serve machines in town with a very confusing way of listing the prices charged, what you paid, etc. and you only get to see what you actually paid AFTER you view the printed receipt. We always use the self-checkouts due to the poor attitudes of most of the cashiers plus we cannot verify what prices are being rung up unless we do them ourselves---the cashiers just rapidly scan the goods not caring what the prices are, being scanned and the bagger throws them into a bag. All in all, we thought Walmart employees, especially the cashiers were totally worthless as model employees, but Kroger is coming in second---at least at Kroger they will greet you with "good morning" or similar instead of just a barely audible grunt like at Walmart---again, a good reason to avoid the manned lanes at both stores. The local Meijer store is looking better and better nowadays.
@nikalseynpublix cannoli double pack
you'll thank me later
Where is Sams on this list???
@evamariethompson2932Trader Joe's is litterally the other half of Aldis. It owned by the Aldi Nord. Aldis was split into 2 companies after the father died and his sons fought over if they should sell cigarettes or not. The one that wanted to kept Europ and his brother took Aldi Sur to the US.
@ClericVAPublix has probably the best chicken wings around. 20 nice sized wings $16.99 and in a lot of stores the are available sauced for free.
@ClericVALove Market Basket!
@katieminnick2813Misleading about Safeways in San Francisco. Those stores aren't closing. They are being redesigned and rebuilt as part of new housing complexes. Apparently bigger and better.
The company says the store at Ocean Beach will be even larger once it reopens, and that all employees (hopefully this applies to both stores) will be reassigned to other nearby stores while it is closed for construct.
A similar plan is in the potential works for the Safeway in the Marina, also, with an amazing looking design for the new living/shopping complex.
It's unlike me to be pro big corporation, but I really like Safeway stores.
I have shopp ed at Wegman’s for almost sixty years and had never been disappointed. For the last year I have lived in North Carolina and have never walked into a wegmans that wasn’t crowded . Their produce is fresh and local and the meat is the best you can buy in any grocery store. Check out is quick. I never met anyone who does not love Wegman’s.
@PaulaFragaszy-th2inWhole Foods went downhill when Amazon took over. Quality went down and prices went up. I went there twice since Amazon took over and I won't go back. Store only for wealthy people
@markdossett9100Mostly BS, there are rotten stores, rotten employers, but this pushes the truth on almost every statement - simply BS
@jasonknootzHEB: theyre great at disasters. They handled the aftermath of the blizzard blackout like pros.
@estebanfrisch2536Ralph's sale prices are good the regular prices are ridiculous, play must make most of their money off of the people that don't look at the prices, is there a self-serve change machines always make mistakes in their favor, they act as if Costco doesn't exist.
Costco is best overall
Aldi is good for some things
Trader Joe's is good price/quality for some things, I've had repeat problems with milk products spoiling tho. Vons is generally even more expensive than Ralphs for no good reason.
Very good video. Would be nice to get a series on regional chains.
@RuthsCommonCentsFormer Kroger employee here! They lost the Albertson's case to buy it...it was rumored that Kroger's former CFO took his stock option prior to the case and booked....go figure!🤦🏽
Publix has been awesome and former employees of Kroger I worked with are there.🤷🏽 I was amazed at Aldi's. Wegmans surprised me with the face recognition usage.
Aldi and trader Joe's owned by same family. Both stores are German owned so profits go to foreign country and don't stay here.
@RunningfromtheherdI ❤ Trader Joe's. 😊
@christinesalyer600I remember Aldi having problems with their produce. A lot of the produce had come from East Europe.
@thomasword5762I walked out of a fry’s store one time and sat in my car checking my receipt and noticed they didn’t charge me for 4-12 packs of soda. So I went back into the store. I told the manager and he was so rude. He said to me what do you want a badge? I left the soda there and walked out without saying anything. Till this day I wish I would have gotten loud and told the whole store what he said.
@sharonbartusek3869These advertisements are really bad when you show someone hurting another person. Like this one,pouring hot coffee on someone they’re supposed to love. It’s really sad.
@sharonbartusek3869While at Stanford for treatment Used the Safeway about a mile away.I had a good experience. Enjoyed the Chinese food sold by the pound.
@pablohernandez1159BULLSHIT i have live TEXAS my hole life i am 55yr i will never shope at HEB should have been the worst list for customer service and quality
@thomashuelsman9641Kroger is garbage--the company strategy is to buy regional grocery chains with good reputations, then live off of that reputation until they run the reputation into the ground. Same with Albertson's and Safeway. In my area, Sam's Club and Aldi are the best alternatives available locally. I traveled in Texas early this year and was thoroughly impressed with H-E-B--clean, well-stocked stores, with quality house brands, fair prices, and courteous staff. Walmart sucks for anything food-related other than non-perishable groceries. By the way, about grocery store chain gasoline stations--the only national chain that I know of the sells Top Tier fuel is Costco.
@rockymountainjazzfan1822I'm on foot. I live a mile from asphalt. Sometimes I can get a lift, not often.
My backpack can carry 50 lbs, but I prefer to keep it to 30.
My closet grocery store is Publix. Walmart is 4 times further and I wouldn't buy groceries there, anyway. It's a dry goods store.:)
Gristedes in New York with their green meat!!
@stuartlee6622