Newsweek released its 2026 Most Trustworthy Companies in America rankings, with Whole Foods Market topping the grocery and convenience store category, followed by The Kroger Co. at No. 2.
The list recognizes 31 grocery and convenience store operators across the country and reflects a mix of national chains, regional players and independent operators that have built lasting customer trust.
Mix of national and regional players
Whole Foods Market – based in Austin, Texas – earned the No. 1 spot.
Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, took the No. 2 position. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip followed at No. 3, with Lakeland, Florida-based Publix at No. 4 and Lakewood, Colorado-based Natural Grocers rounding out the top five.
H-E-B, based in San Antonio, came in at No. 6, followed by Black Mountain, North Carolina-based Ingles at No. 7 and Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter at No. 8.
Boise, Idaho-based WinCo Foods took the No. 9 spot, with Sheboygan, Wisconsin-based Piggly Wiggly closing out the top 10.
Strong showing from regional operators
The list reflects strong representation from regional and family-owned grocers across the country.
Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s ranked No. 11, followed by Greensboro, North Carolina-based The Fresh Market at No. 12 and Wawa, Pennsylvania-based Wawa at No. 13. Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion ranked No. 14 and O’Hara Township, Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle followed at No. 15.
Rounding out positions 16 through 20 were San Bernardino, California-based Stater Bros. Markets, Rochester, New York-based Wegmans, Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market, Saint Ann, Missouri-based Save A Lot and Atlanta-based RaceTrac.
Industry diversity in Top 30
The remaining positions on the list highlight the breadth of the grocery industry, from regional chains to large national operators.
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee ranked No. 21, followed by Emeryville, California-based Grocery Outlet at No. 22, Phoenix-based Vons at No. 23, West Sacramento, California-based Raley’s Supermarkets at No. 24 and Springfield, Massachusetts-based Big Y Foods at No. 25.
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies came in at No. 26, with West Chester, Pennsylvania-based Fareway at No. 27, Jacksonville, Florida-based Winn-Dixie at No. 28, Pleasanton, California-based Safeway at No. 29, Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Weis Markets at No. 30 and Keasbey, New Jersey-based Wakefern at No. 31.
Window into consumer trust
The Most Trustworthy Companies in America list offers a window into how consumers perceive the brands they engage with regularly.
For grocery retailers, where customer relationships are built across thousands of weekly interactions, recognition on the list reinforces the role that consistency, service and community engagement play in building lasting trust.
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