2025’s Most Trusted Grocery Store Has Been Revealed

Move over bulk-buying fanatics—America has spoken, and the crown for the country’s most trusted grocery store belongs to… Trader Joe’s. That’s right, the land of quirky snacks, Hawaiian-shirt-clad crew members, and cookie butter dreams has officially earned the top spot in the 2025 Axios Harris Poll 100.

Trader Joe’s racked up an impressive 82.1 on the poll, narrowly nudging out Patagonia at 82 and Costco at 80.6. For context, Costco fans, it’s a solid score—but apparently, our love for mini dark chocolate peanut butter cups and unexpected seasonal finds is just a little stronger. Notably, this isn’t just a “fluke year” win: Trader Joe’s improved its score by 3.5 points from 2024, proving that loyal customers are still happily returning, shopping cart after shopping cart.

So, what’s the secret sauce behind Trader Joe’s cult-like reputation? It’s a mix of friendly staff, unique, affordable offerings, and a knack for making every visit feel like a tiny treasure hunt. Whether it’s pumpkin-flavored everything in the fall, limited-edition holiday treats, or their infamous quirky packaging that sparks joy on Instagram, Trader Joe’s has figured out how to balance value, variety, and a genuinely fun shopping experience. Even a few minor food safety and workplace concerns earlier in 2025 couldn’t shake the brand’s standing.

Americans were surveyed three separate times for the Axios Harris Poll, which has been testing reputations since 1999. The process is impressively thorough: the first survey asked about which companies have the best and worst reputations, the second measured key reputation dimensions to generate each company’s Reputational Quotient, and the final asked about brands and politics. With a 95% confidence level and a Bayesian credible interval ensuring accuracy, this isn’t just a casual “people like Trader Joe’s” statement—it’s statistically backed love.

So, the next time you’re wandering those aisles, debating between two bags of chips you’ll probably eat in one sitting, know this: you’re shopping at America’s most trusted grocery store. From the affordable prices to the seasonal surprises and downright charming vibe, Trader Joe’s has somehow turned grocery shopping into a mini adventure—and America is here for it.