The 13 Worst Supermarkets in America in 2014
Reader score: 67
Location: Nationwide
Year founded: Walmart in 1962/Supercenters in 1988
No chain received more complaints on the survey than Wal-Mart. Shoppers there were particularly annoyed by the chain having too few open checkouts, out-of-stock basic items, and spotty price labeling.
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Reader score: 69
Location: Maine, Mass., N.H., R.I., and Vt.
Year founded: 1860
Shaw’s received a negative score on price and neutral scores on food quality, service, and cleanliness. Though it has lost market share in recent years, the chain was one of several supermarkets purchased about a year ago by Cerberus Capital Management.
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Reader score: 70
Location: Del. N.J., N.Y., and Pa.
Year founded: 1968
This supermarket (which was ranked the worst in 2012) received negative scores on service and cleanliness, and neutral scores on price satisfaction and perishables. Pathmark’s parent company, A&P exited bankruptcy in 2012, but has struggled to achieve profitable sales.
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Reader score: 70
Location: Pa., N.J., Del. Md.
Year founded: 1891
Acme received a negative score on price, and neutral scores on service and perishables, but an above-average score on cleanliness. Acme was another one of the struggling supermarket chains purchased last year by Cerberus Capital Management.
Groceteria
Reader score: 72
Location: Wisc.
Year founded: 1872
Pick ‘n Save, operated by Roundy’s Supermarkets, received neutral ratings on service, price and perishables, and an above-average score on cleanliness. The chain has lost market share in recent years as large retailers like Wal-Mart have encroached on its territory.
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Reader score: 72
Location: N.Y. and Pa.
Year founded: 1962
This supermarket chain hasn’t quite been living up to its name. It received a below-average score on price satisfaction, and neutral scores on service, cleanliness, and perishables.
Supermarketnews
Reader score: 72
Location: ill., Iowa, and Ind.
Year founded: 1899
Jewel-Osco received a poor score on price, a neutral rating on service and perishables, and an above-average score on cleanliness. It was also purchased recently by Cerberus Capital Management.
Leopardo Construction
Reader score: 72
Location: N.Y., N.J., Mass., R.I., and Conn.
Year founded: 1914 as Shopmate, 1947 as Stop & Shop
This chain rated below average on price satisfaction, and received neutral scores on service, perishables, and cleanliness. Stop & Shop’s parent company, the Dutch firm Ahold, has been moving into online grocery sales with its PeaPod brand, which is available to many Stop & Shop customers.
Mark M. Murray/The Republican
Reader score: 72
Location: Mid- and South-Atlantic Regions
Year founded: 1957
Food Lion received neutral scores in every category. To better compete, the chain’s Belgian parent company Delhaize Group, plans on improving the check-out experience and increased staff training.
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Reader score: 73
Year founded: 1915
Location: Western/Central United States
Earlier this month, Cerberus Capital Management agreed to buy Safeway, the second-largest grocery store company in the country for about $9.4 billion. Under the deal, Safeway would combine with the rest of Cerberus’ holdings for a company that has 2,400 stores and a volume of about $60 billion.
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Reader score: 73
Year founded: 1932
Location: Conn., Mass., N.H., N.Y., Pa., and Vt.
Price Chopper is one of the few supermarkets chains still owned by its founding family, the Golubs. Current CEO Jerel Golub is the fourth-generation to help the company.
Groceria.com
Reader score: 73
Year founded: 1906
Location: Calif. and Nev.
A division of Safeway supermarkets, Vons attempts to cater to its higher-end clientele with full-service banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, and copying centers within many of its stores. The chain received neutral scores on service, price satisfaction, and courteousness, and an above-average rating on cleanliness.
Fatwallet
Reader score: 73
Year founded: 1931
Location: Pa., Ohio, W.V., Md., Ind.
With revenues of nearly $10 billion and 36,000 employees, Giant Eagle is number 33, on Forbes’ list of the country’s largest private companies. The company just entered the Indiana market this year with plans to open multiple stores in the Indianapolis metro area.
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