This Is America’s Most Popular Grocery Store Right Now

All grocery stores serve the same purpose: to provide consumers with food so they can make meals and snacks that are nourishing and (hopefully) delicious. However, not all grocery stores are created equal. American consumers have just named a new favorite grocery store of the moment, and it’s likely not one of the chains you’re thinking of. 

This new data regarding Americans and their grocery store preferences comes to us from YouGov, a market research and data analytics firm. According to the intel, which is based on 1,220 nationally representative interviews of the U.S. population collected in October, November, and December of 2024, America’s favorite grocery store of the moment is 7-Eleven. Now, we know what you’re thinking: 7-Eleven isn’t a grocer—it’s a convenience store perfect for snacks like chips, candy, and soda. Nevertheless, the convenience store chain scored a 65% popularity rating in YouGov’s latest grocery survey. Popularity, as defined by YouGov, is the “percent of people who have a positive opinion of a grocery store.”

While 7-Eleven nabbed the top spot, it was followed closely by Trader Joe’s—a beloved and more traditional grocery store chain that earned a 64% popularity rating—and Whole Foods Market (with a 61% popularity rating.) Rounding out the top five are Aldi and Kroger, which both scored a 60 percent popularity rating. Publix and Safeway each made an appearance in the top 10.

As evidenced by the data, however, responses varied greatly by generation. Keep reading to find out more about America’s favorite grocery stores!

7-Eleven Isn’t Everyone’s Top Choice

If you’re part of the “7-Eleven isn’t a grocery store” camp, rest assured that the convenience store chain isn’t the top choice for all shoppers. While 7-Eleven was the number one pick among Millennials—defined by YouGov as those born between 1982 and 1999—it wasn’t the preferred chain for Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1981) and Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964.) For both generations, 7-Eleven actually came in fourth place, beat out by the likes of Trader Joe’s and Aldi.

Trader Joe’s (Narrowly) Bests Aldi

Trader Joe’s and Aldi are often pitted against each other because both chains offer inventive grocery items at discounted prices. However, one chain clearly reigns supreme with shoppers of all ages. Trader Joe’s placed second among all adults, edging out Aldi by four percentage points, and beat out Aldi with Millennials and Baby Boomers as well. For Generation X, the two chains actually tied—each earning a 64% popularity rating.

Millennials Prefer Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods

In a surprising twist from recent grocery shopping data, Millennials now prefer Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods. While the data didn’t delve into why certain generations favor one grocery chain over another, we’re betting affordability was a factor here. Younger shoppers, like Millennials, may prefer Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods because of TJ’s extensive slate of affordable products. Whole Foods, on the other hand, has a reputation for being particularly expensive, which can be a turn off for younger consumers.

Amazon Fresh Fares Best With Younger Shoppers

While it may seem like Amazon is everywhere, Amazon Fresh isn’t exactly wowing shoppers. The grocery service came in twelfth place with Millennials. It faired slightly worse with Gen X (fourteenth place) and came in fifteenth place with Baby Boomers, who clearly prefer to buy their groceries in person.