Retail: Best Grocery Store

1. Trader Joe’s

Multiple locations; traderjoes.com

When the late Joe Coulombe developed the idea of adding a South Seas, tiki vibe to his grocery store chain in 1967, who knew it would become such a hit? More than 50 years and more than 500 stores later, Trader Joe’s is much more than a quirky idea. The market, which initially thrived on a cult following, has become an industry leader with $13.7 billion in net sales, according to retail insights company Edge by Ascential. As a comparison, Whole Foods has $16.5 billion U.S. sales.

And TJ’s remains a hit with patrons, including readers of the OC Register, who again voted it as their top grocery destination.

Straw hats and Hawaiian shirts notwithstanding, the chain, now owned by the parent company of Aldi supermarkets, maintains a unique selection of foodstuffs that sets it apart from the major grocery chains.

Whether it’s “Two-Buck Chuck,” from the wine section or a limited-run specialty item, shoppers are always making surprising “finds” at the store.

According to CNBC’s “Make It,” Trader Joe’s carries about one-tenth as many items as traditional grocery stores, making it seem more like a boutique shop.

In 1972, Trader Joe’s introduced its first private label product — granola, and that has become yet another defining aspect of the store. Trader Joe’s offers a wide selection of organic products that compare favorably to those at organic chains.

PAUL BERSEBACH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Trader Joe’s has become an industry leader with $13.7 billion in net sales, according to retail insights company Edge by Ascential.

– Greg Mellen

2. Ralphs

Multiple locations, ralphs.com

With 37 stores in Orange County and 185 locations throughout Southern California, Ralphs is an ubiquitous presence in the region’s grocery landscape. Its parent, The Kroger Company, ranks atop the largest supermarket category annually.

This year, Ralphs claimed the No. 2 slot among Register readers, who last year favored the more targeted Whole Foods and Sprouts chains.

Asked what he thinks defines Ralphs, John Votava, director of corporate affairs for the Ralphs division of Kroger, responded, “We pride ourselves on being fully stocked with the freshest merchandise and the friendliest associates to deliver a memorable shopping experience.”

According to Votava, Kroger invested more than $2.5 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic in added pay for employees and to implement safety measures going forward.

“We quickly expanded our pickup services by more than 200% to reach all 185 Ralphs locations throughout Southern California and the Central Coast during the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Votava said.

Stater Bros. has been a uniquely Southern California institution since twin brothers and Dust Bowl refugees Cleo and Leo Stater put down $600 to buy their original market, which opened in 1936 in Yucaipa. Stater Bros. now boasts more than 170 stores, employing 18,000 with annual sales of more than $4 billion.

The chain is particularly renowned for its hand- and custom-cut meats, produce and, believe it or not, handmade sushi.

According to the company’s website, Stater has also been rated as the “best place to shop for groceries” among full service supermarket chains in Southern California, according to a leading national consumer magazine. A 2017 survey by Indeed.com ranked Stater Bros. No. 20 nationally in job security.

Giving back remains a core value, with the company partnering with local charities across an array of areas. In January, Stater Bros. Charities announced it had raised more than $435,000 to address food insecurity in the communities that the company serves. Funds will provide up to 3.9 million meals to needy individuals.

3. Stater Bros.

Multiple locations; staterbros.com