Findings from a new large-scale consumer study put Wegmans in first place, followed by Florida’s Publix and Trader Joe’s.
Wegmans recently opened a store near the Delaware line in Concordville and actively marketed the location in the First State before its opening. The store is off Route 202.
Trader Joe’s, which has one store in Delaware, also near state line off Route 202, had taken the top spot for three years in the survey of 10,000 customers, according to the report from Market Force, a Colorado firm.
The survey from Market Force asked participants to rate their satisfaction with their most recent grocery shopping experience and their likelihood to refer that grocer to others. The results were averaged to rank each brand on a Composite Loyalty Index.
Companies had to garner enough votes to make the list
After not earning enough votes to make the list in 2015, Wegmans doubled its votes in 2016, resulting in a score of 76%.
Publix ranked second for the fourth year in a row with an earned a score of 75%, followed by Trader Joe’s, which slipped five percentage points from 2015 for a score of 73%.
Shoprite ranked 10th, while Wal-Mart was last on the list at 15.
Wegmans competitor Whole Foods did not make the list. Whole Foods also has a store near the Delaware line off Route 202
Wegmans, founded in 1916, is known for its fresh produce, reasonable prices and massive stores, the report stated. Wegmans is expanding steadily, but promotes from within and has not undertaken a major expansion. The family-owned chain focuses on employee training as a way to provide a high level of customer service. It hires a large number. of college students
The survey found that Publix and Wegmans led in most areas, including the ability to find desired items, cleanliness and specialty department service.
ALDI was the price leader, followed by WinCo and Costco.
Trader Joe’s, known for its friendly service, ranked first for cashier courtesy. ShopRite, Meijer and Kroger offer the best sales and promotions, the survey indicated.
Despite the rise in alternative shopping and delivery methods, 99% still do their grocery shopping traditionally – a trip to the store to buy and bring home products.
In the past 90 days, just 5% polled ordered online for home delivery, 2% ordered online and picked up groceries in-store, and 2% used “Click and Collect” – ordering online and collecting through the grocer’s drive-up.
Founded in 2005, Market Force has a growing global presence, with offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France and Spain.
It serves over 350 clients that operate multi-location businesses, including major retailers, restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, financial institutions and entertainment. More information can be found at http://www.marketforce.com./
