The Fresh Market has been voted Best Grocery Store in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, earning five first-place honors overall and repeating the five-category sweep readers handed the specialty grocer last year.
In addition to the top overall spot, readers named the Greensboro, North Carolina-based grocer No. 1 for Best Grocery Store Bakery, Best Grocery Store Deli, Best Grocery Store for Produce and Best Grocery Store Prepared Food. The win marks the fifth time readers have recognized The Fresh Market as the country’s best grocery store.
Especially meaningful
“What makes these awards so special is that they come directly from the guests we have the privilege to serve every day,” said Brian Johnson, CEO of The Fresh Market. “This recognition belongs to our Team Members, whose passion for great food, genuine hospitality and attention to detail create a memorable shopping experience. Being honored across five categories tells us our guests feel that care in every part of the store, and we are thankful to have earned their trust.”
USA Today’s 10Best nominees were determined by a panel of local experts and contributors, who selected their favorite American grocery stores based on value, selection and service. Winners were then chosen by popular vote during a 28-day voting period on the 10Best website.
“Our guests come to us for carefully curated meals and ingredients, Team Members who know and love what they do, trusted value on the items they reach for most, and the joy of shopping in a store that feels inspiring from the moment they walk in,” Johnson added. “Whether they are planning a simple weeknight dinner or a meal they will talk about for years, we are proud to be part of those moments.”
The awards add to a run of recognition for the grocer, which also has been rated by USA Today as one of America’s Best Customer Service Companies and named Best Specialty/Natural/Ethnic Grocer by Newsweek for 2025.
The Fresh Market operates more than 170 stores in 22 states and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chilean retail conglomerate Cencosud S.A.