The South's Best Grocery Stores

Betsy Cribb

Whether it’s a leisurely Sunday afternoon shop for the week of meals ahead, or a last-minute Wednesday pop-in to pick up a forgotten bag of sugar, we’re a picky sort when it comes to where we buy our food. After all, going to the grocery store is about more than just the food itself. Yes, we love a wide selection of fresh produce; and yes, we love a good bargain; but at the end of the day, we treasure the hospitable atmosphere of our neighborhood grocery stores—and the friendly faces in the aisles and behind the butcher’s counter—most of all. It’s no wonder, then, that we Southerners are fiercely loyal to our neighborhood grocers. This year, we polled our readers about their favorite grocery stores across the South. From Publix to Piggly Wiggly, here are the six grocery stores that have won us all over.

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1. Publix

Publix

Founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida

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2. Kroger

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Founded in 1883

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3. Harris Teeter

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Founded in 1960

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4. H-E-B

H-E-B

Founded in 1905

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5. Wegmans

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Founded in 1916

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6. Piggly Wiggly

Ira Gay Sealy/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Founded in 1916

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