Full Breakdown
The Fresh Market Wins Top Spot in USA Today’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Grocery Awards
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Fresh Market, a supermarket chain based in Greensboro, North Carolina, was named the No. 1 Best Grocery Store in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The chain also secured first-place honors in the Best Produce, Best Deli, Best Prepared Foods, and Best Bakery sub-categories, outperforming competitors such as Publix, Kroger and ALDI.
Background and Scale
Founded in 1982 by Ray and Beverly Berry, The Fresh Market was modeled after European food markets to deliver an intimate, personalized shopping experience. The company now operates more than 170 stores across 22 states. Brian Johnson has served as president and chief executive officer for just over six years, guiding the brand’s emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients, prepared foods, and a hospitality-focused environment.
Offerings and Recent Growth
The retailer highlights daily in-store meat cutting, multiple butchers per location, and a broad selection of ready-to-eat meals and meal kits such as the Peppercorn Steak Market offering. Over the past year the chain added five new stores and signaled plans for further expansion. Customer comments featured on the company’s website praise the organized produce aisles, the variety of steam-bag vegetables, and the absence of spoiled items.
Executive Perspective and Guest Appreciation
Brian Johnson expressed gratitude to shoppers for the award, noting that the recognition reflects the collective effort of the company’s team and its close relationship with guests, which he likened to family. He emphasized that the brand’s mission is to make everyday eating both extraordinary and easy, a goal he attributes to the store’s curated product selection and hospitality standards.
Impact on the Grocery Landscape
The Fresh Market’s sweep of multiple categories underscores a consumer preference for fresh-focused, service-oriented grocery formats. By distinguishing itself from larger chains that are often highlighted for price, cleanliness or convenience, the chain may influence competitors to enhance fresh-food offerings and in-store experiences as they vie for similar reader-driven accolades.