And the winner is: 7-Eleven?

January 25, 2025·Darcie

The internet-based market research firm YouGov recently held a popularity contest for the most popular grocery store in the US. The company holding the top spot is 7-Eleven, which came as a surprise to me because I don't think of 7-Eleven as a grocery store per se. However, after I thought about it a little more, I believe this makes sense. The result says a lot about how Americans shop and what is most available to them.

While I love to go grocery shopping and can easily spend over an hour in a store, most people find this task to be a necessary but boring duty. The quicker they can get it over with, the better. Therefore, popping into a conveniently located 7-Eleven to buy a few staples or snacks is preferred to trekking to a grocery store that could be miles away. The footprint of these stores is smaller than a supermarket so you can get in and out more quickly. Milk is located at the back of most grocery stores in the hope you will find other items to throw in your shopping cart, but you can easily do a grab-and-go at a convenience store. Also, shops like 7-Eleven, Kwik Trip, Circle K, and Wawa frequently have loss leaders that entice people to stop there. Our local Kwik Trip often features a five-pound bag of potatoes or a loaf of bread for 99 cents. Who wouldn't want to snag a good deal like that?

While 7-Eleven tops this ranking, more traditional grocery chains fill out most of the top ten. Trader Joe's is No. 2, followed by Whole Foods, Aldi, and Kroger. I fancy myself to be a grocery store connoisseur, so I was taken aback to see that Wegmans didn't even break the top 20, coming in at No. 21. Any time I can shop at a Wegmans I will. We have upscale supermarkets in the Twin Cities (Kowalski's and Lunds & Byerlys), but I think that Wegmans stands above these. When I want to feel posh I pop into Kowalski's, but for everyday shopping Aldi remains my go-to supermarket. I also frequent smaller shops in the area to find specialty items. What's your favorite grocery store?

15 comments

gamulhollandJanuary 25, 2025

My husband and two of our four kids love to shop (not necessarily buy anything, but they enjoy the browsing), so they love a massive place like Costco. I love how Costco treats their employees (or so I’m told), but I’m happy to let them go to big shops like that— I find Trader Joe’s much more manageable. :) And our local TJ’s even has copious parking!

LeilaDJanuary 25, 2025

Not a fan of Trader Joe's because I've heard things- but then "no ethical consumption etc". Also, you kind of have to hope they might have what you are looking for and there's no guarantee they'll have it next week- no thanks. Safeway down the street for me.

FuzzyChefJanuary 26, 2025

Wegmans has a small geographic area

CookbooksgaloreJanuary 26, 2025

Huge chunks of the country are shopping deserts. We spent a short break in West Virginia last Fall and it seemed that for many communities the Dollar General was the only local option.
We're two miles from the Wegmans in Charlottesville, and love the choices, but the prices sometimes make our eyes water. Twelve feet of shelving for spices, with multiple brands, but Badia, which is the only economical offering has a pitiful selection.

Indio32January 26, 2025

As I've said in the past I absolutely hate supermarkets what with disappearing ingredients and a recent report saying that around 70% of the things they now sell would be classed as UPF which has helped to produce record profits. Had to chuckle when I read that a woman said that going to her local supermarket was like visiting a super max prison what with all gates, security guards, cameras, checks etc.
Was in Paris recently and doing a food shop. Yup you can buy UPF but there are a huge number of small independent shops selling high quality small batch food and the street markets! It's not particularly cheap but it not particularly expensive either. Bread doesn't have to come in plastic bags and be made with 18 ingredients. It really is a food lover's paradise! Would highly recommend Miyam if your ever in Paris.

racheljmorganJanuary 26, 2025

For us, nothing beats Aldi for prices and fresher produce, though the atmosphere is drab and chaotic. Frankly, the local Walmart parking lot is too dangerous and Publix has obscene pricing. Nowhere in this area is "nice" or enjoyable to shop so I just get Kroger delivery. Their coupon system is good. I liked the fancy Pittsford Wegmans when I was in upstate NY and a 24-hr Kroger near WVU.

annmartinaJanuary 26, 2025

I have never been to a Wegmans and now would love to visit one. I live equidistant to a Cub and a Lunds. I do love Aldi (except for most produce or meat) but there isn't an Aldi or Kwik Trip in my city. I've been to 7-11 in Singapore and read about the ones in Japan. I wish ours were more like that. On a side note, I popped into Lunds last night to pick up a few things and a carton of 18 eggs were up to $10.49. Where will it stop!

demomcookJanuary 26, 2025

No Wegman's or Aldi's in our area. The Trader Joes is terrific, and always packed. We alternate with a local chain that has a few different things, and every few months a Costco delivery. Sprouts is our other go-to.

kgmomJanuary 26, 2025

My local Wegmans has declined in the last few years. Produce is often somewhat sparse, I can't always get the cuts of meat I want, app is not kept updated.

dbuhlerJanuary 26, 2025

When my husband and I lived in Northern Virginia ('05-'08) we really liked to shop at Wegmans and missed it terribly when we first moved to Idaho. We have a store here in town called WinCo which has a huge bulk foods section with a great variety of pasta shapes, spices, baking ingredients, beans, etc. They also have a really great produce section that is large and stocked with the best produce in town (aside from the farmers market when it's open). Last fall I counted 8 varieties of apples during one of my trips. This is where we shop most of the time. We also have two Walmarts in town, a few Albertsons, a Fred Meyer, and a few health food stores...so tracking down a specialty ingredient for a special baking or cooking project isn't too hard, but there are still a few things that I have to source online. Also really love grocery shopping! In my social circle I feel like a rare species because I don't favor online grocery shopping, pick up or delivery and most of my friends can't believe that I choose to spend my time shopping and making food from scratch. I feel like I am with my people here!!

mjesJanuary 28, 2025

I have a wealth of favorites - Metropolitan Markets, Trader Joe's, Uwajimaya's, PCC (a natural foods cooperative), Whole Foods ... but my absolute favorite is a small Farmhouse Market in Fall City, Washington - they feature fresh fruits and vegetables that they truck over from East of the mountains twice a week in season, a genuine butcher who is fantastic on special orders, many local products from small producers that you rarely see outside the seasonal fruit stand or ethnic market, even a great selection of wine. It's like shopping in the agricultural areas without the trip over the pass. Among the others, my favorite depends upon what I want to eat ... and it doesn't hurt that my Trader Joe's is beside a small grocery that serves the South Asian community or that my Metropolitan is one of the few places in the county where you can buy scrapple ...

ZephyrnessJanuary 28, 2025

Most of the 45 stores listed are not in my area (I'm looking at within an hour's drive). We have two local chains, Schnuck's and Deirberg's, that have the market pretty well sewn up. Deirberg's has the better selection, but then it is also in a more affluent area. I haven't seen a lot of price difference, but the feel is more posh. Honestly, most of my food comes from a local co op (meats, eggs and in season vegetables), Costco's for frozen vegetables and milk, an the truly fabulous Global Foods. Global only has a couple of stores, but I can get a huge range of international produce (7-10 choys, pea shoots, 5 or more different eggplants, sour oranges!), a wide range of canned goods from all over the world, less common cuts of meat, many dals, noodles, sauces, and all is much less expensive than most grocery stores. I do some specialty online shopping (burlap and barrel for spices, rancho gordo for beans). We eat very few premade foods, so traditional grocery stores are not all useful to me.

rmpostonmfandtJanuary 28, 2025

We’re pretty lucky here in Southern California with a wide range of markets - Northgate for great meats and produce, 99 Ranch for a whole aisle dedicated to dumplings and more produce, and of course the fancy schmancy grocery stores like Gelson’s and Bristol Farms. But Trader Joe’s and Sprouts are my regular go-to stores. And agree with previous commenters - I’m now avoiding my local Albertsons due to the prison gate, security guards, and cameras in the parking lot.

amandafilmJanuary 29, 2025

I’d rather go to Smart & Final or Grocery Outlet where I can get huge batches of stuff cheap.

GenieBJanuary 31, 2025

I really can’t imagine buying food other than snacks at a 7-Eleven type store!

I love to grocery shop and have 8 within walking distance. Can’t really say which is my favorite but I probably shop most often at Whole Foods because it is conveniently across the street from my apartment building. Fred Meyers (a Kroger’s brand) is where I spend the most money though.