Trader Joe's Topples Publix in Customer Satisfaction Survey

When it comes to customer satisfaction, Publix no longer beats all-comers.

That’s according to the latest national survey released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. For the first time since the survey began in 1995, Publix has not made the No. 1 spot. Trader Joe’s and Wegmans, a northern chain, beat the Lakeland-based powerhouse out by three points. Publix tied with Texas-based H-E-B for the No. 2 slot in the national rankings.

Third-place honors involved a three-way tie between Whole Foods, Target and Aldi. BI-LO/Winn-Dixie came in fourth place.

Customers satisfaction with grocery stores is down across the board, the survey runners note, as well.

“Even with frequent price discounts, it’s difficult for supermarkets to moderate the negative effect of rising food costs, especially when wage growth is weak,” Claes Fornell, ACSI chairman and founder said in a media release.

ACSI is the “only national cross-industry measure of customer satisfaction in the United States,” according to its website. The index is meant to measure the satisfaction of American consumers in a variety of retail settings. Each year, ACSI surveys about 70,000 consumers to determine index results.

What grocery chain do you think offers the best customer satisfaction in the Tampa Bay area? Tell us about your favorite by commenting below!

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