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 second.
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 players
Whole Foods Market and Kroger were followed by Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip (third), Lakeland, Florida-based Publix (fourth) and Lakewood, Colorado-based Natural Grocers (fifth).
The sixth-eighth spots went to San Antonio-based H-E-B, Black Mountain, North Carolina-based Ingles and Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter.
Boise, Idaho-based WinCo Foods came in at ninth, with Sheboygan, Wisconsin-based Piggly Wiggly closing out the top 10.
Strong showing from regional operators
Spots 11-20 on the list went to Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s; Greensboro, North Carolina-based The Fresh Market; Wawa, Pennsylvania-based Wawa; Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion; and O’Hara Township, Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle.
Rounding out positions 16 through 20 were San Bernardino, California-based Stater Bros. Markets; Rochester, New York-based Wegmans; Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market; Missouri-based Save A Lot; and Atlanta-based RaceTrac.
Rounding out the field
The remaining positions went to: West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee; Emeryville, California-based Grocery Outlet; Phoenix-based Vons; West Sacramento, California-based Raley’s Supermarkets; Springfield, Massachusetts-based Big Y Foods; Albertsons Companies; West Chester, Pennsylvania-based Fareway; Jacksonville, Florida-based Winn-Dixie; Pleasanton, California-based Safeway; Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Weis Markets; and Keasbey, New Jersey-based Wakefern.
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.
[RELATED: Walmart Leads U.S. Supermarket Market In Awareness, While H-E-B Wins On Loyalty]