Dive Brief:
- H-E-B clinched the top spot in Dunnhumby’s latest Retailer Preference Index, marking the fourth consecutive year the Texas grocer has come out on top.
- Market Basket held onto its No. 2 spot for the second year in a row while Woodman’s, a Midwestern regional grocer that was not included in last year’s RPI report, took third place, bumping Costco down to the No. 4 slot. Aldi maintained its fifth-place position.
- Trusted regional players and discounters continue to top Dunnhumby’s charts. The data firm noted that out of the several operational pillars it tracks, “Price, Promotion & Rewards” remains the most influential driver of long-term performance.
Dive Insight:
While chains dubbed “best-in-class regional supermarkets” by Dunnhumby continue to come out on top in the annual RPI ranking, the data firm noted other notable rank changes in 2025.
Dunnhumby noted that retailers that rose up the ranks in 2025 were those that shoppers equated with price and quality. Meanwhile, “rank decliners” primarily consisted of mid-market conventional grocers and those that consumers felt weren’t delivering on their strengths as retailers.
Amazon and Sam’s Club fell into the latter category of rank decliners in the latest RPI report.
Amazon, which made significant changes to its grocery operations throughout last year but still struggled with its brick-and-mortar Amazon Fresh business, dropped two spots, while Sam’s Club dropped six places. These drops are likely due in part to the decreased importance of digital services to consumers, Dunnhumby noted. Despite the drop, Amazon did take home first place in the Digital pillar.
Sprouts Farmers Market moved up in rank by remaining price-focused with a clear quality-first brand. The specialty grocer broke into the top four brands in the Quality pillar, Dunnhumby reported.
Dunnhumby said it is seeing for the first time a significant increase in the importance of both savings and quality as consumers show they are willing to shop both quality-focused retailers and savings-first retailers.
“[T]he U.S. has a consumer base that is becoming smarter and smarter, shopping more retailers up and down the Quality-Savings spectrum and leaving those who are merely leaning one way or undifferentiated behind,” Dunnhumby said in the report.
Dunnhumby’s annual RPI report is based on customer and financial data for the 81 largest supermarket, discount, superstore, club and online banners in the U.S.
