Whole Foods topped yet another list: the “Best Grocery Stores in America 2017.”
It was put together by The Daily Meal, a blog published by tronc Inc., formerly known as Tribune Publishing.
At first glance, it looked like just another “Best Grocery Stores” list, but then I saw whoever compiled this clickbait (there's no named author) ranked Wal-Mart Stores Inc. at No. 3 while Wegmans was relegated to No. 15.
Surely Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans, with its rabid fan base and near-worship in social media, should rank higher than Wal-Mart?
The list, however, is all about what's next, and it appears innovation is a major factor in selection. Authors pointed to the fantastic job Wal-Mart's doing with grocery pickup — not delivery — as a reason to name it No. 3.
What other retailer has made pickup so easy and accessible? There's still no fee on a $30 minimum purchase, and from most of the reports I've seen, customer satisfaction is relatively high.
From a consumer standpoint, pickup ticks a lot of boxes because it allows you to shop on your own time — while your kids are on the playground, or during a break at work, for example — and pick up at a designated time.
There's no strict delivery areas, which vexes me as a ZIP code border dweller excluded from most grocery delivery. There's also no extra packaging or temperature control situations for delivery, like you have for Blue Apron or another meal kit delivery.
My Blue Apron saga ended after repeated meat leakage and temperature control issues. Wal-Mart's pickup prices also are the same as in-store shopping.
While I concede that offering grocery pickup isn't the easiest thing for a retailer to manage, logistically, it's a whole lot less hassle than physically driving an order to a consumer.
So, OK, I'll eat crow on making fun of this list for putting Wal-Mart in the top 10.
Who else made the cut? There are a lot of my “bucket list” favorites like the Berkeley Bowl Marketplace, No. 8; Jungle Jim's International Market, No. 6; and, of course, my hometown powerhouse, H-E-B, ranked No. 7.
I fangirl hard on the amazing promos at H-E-B's Central Market. They had New Zealand cherries last week, and a citrus festival few can compete with. I bought a fresh bergamot orange. That's like finding a unicorn!
Regional favorites were prominent, which reminded me of a recent discussion with colleagues.
Who else — besides Wegmans, Publix and H-E-B — has a cult following, and why?
I'd say:
- WinCo in the West, for its miles of aisles packed full of everything from wrapped pears to doomsday prepper food.
- Market Basket in New England, for its insane volume despite — or maybe because of — every store looking like it was designed in 1992. Seriously, those smocks?
- Trader Joe's, for sure, because “hipsters.” Coincidentally, Trader Joe's ranked No. 2 on this list.
- TJ's somewhat-cousin Aldi also is getting there, thanks to its devotion to value foods and meal planning.
- Hy-Vee is making a name for itself in the Midwest. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based banner recently got a lot of press for adding Robinson Fresh's MisFits “ugly” produce, but its community involvement and dietitian program is one of the best.
So, here's where you throw your rotten citrus at me. Who'd I miss?
And just for giggles, here's a throwback video to my visit to Jungle Jim's back in 2012: