Five grocery retailers and 14 food and beverage manufacturers have been recognized on Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Entry Level 2026 list, which spotlights companies committed to employees just entering the workforce.
In the retail groceries category, Balls Food Stores of Kansas and Woodman’s Food Markets of Wisconsin each earned five-star ratings, while Wisconsin-based Festival Foods, Hawaii-based Foodland and Arizona-based Fry’s Food Stores received four-and-a-half stars.
Food/bev manufacturers also make list
Among food and beverage manufacturers, Amy’s and The Hershey Company earned five-star ratings. The Campbell’s Company, Cargill, Haribo, Harlan, Hiland Dairy Foods, McCormick & Company and StarKist received four-and-a-half stars, while Bimbo Bakeries USA, Dawn Foods, Tate & Lyle, Taylor Farms and Wells Enterprises earned four stars.
The list, produced in partnership with Plant-A Insights Group, is the result of a large-scale national survey, desk research and third-party data evaluating companies with more than 1,000 employees on their commitment to those entering the workforce.
Workers still needed
Newsweek noted that while there are fewer job openings today than in the past half-decade, American businesses are still looking to fill more than 6.5 million positions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — and that younger workers are bringing new priorities to the job hunt.
“The modern job market isn’t just about skills; it’s about a fundamental shift in values,” said Jennifer Cunningham, Newsweek’s editor-in-chief. “Younger generations prioritize purpose and well-being, while employers struggle to bridge the gap between traditional expectations and digital-first habits. To thrive, both must move beyond the noise and build a foundation of genuine trust.”
The honorees span the industry’s range, from century-old names such as Hershey, founded in 1894, McCormick (1889), Cargill (1865) and Tate & Lyle (1859) to younger operations, and from employee-owned Woodman’s, founded in 1919, to The Kroger Co.’s Fry’s banner in Arizona. Balls Food Stores, founded in 1923, operates Hen House Market and Price Chopper stores in the Kansas City area, and Foodland, founded in 1948, is Hawaii’s homegrown supermarket chain.
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