In Texas, we already knew H-E-B was the “best,” but the rest of the country is officially in agreement—again. For the fourth consecutive year, San Antonio-based H-E-B has topped dunnhumby’s annual grocery ranking, leading national retailers .
Founded in 1905 as a tiny family store in Kerrville, H-E-B has grown into a cultural juggernaut. While it’s local tradition to brag about their “Texas Shaped” tortilla chips and stellar customer service, the 2026 Retailer Preference Index (RPI) proves their success is backed by hard data and a “laser focus” on community needs.
The 2026 Grocer Rankings
Founded in London circa 1989, dunnhumby bills itself as the global leader in customer data science. This year marks the company’s 9th annual Retailer Preference Index, its staple annual report ranking U.S. grocers. Assessing both financial results as well as customer perception, the report identifies national grocers with the highest “value proposition” as well as key industry trends.
The recent study ranked 81 industry retailers by combining financial performance with customer sentiment across five key pillars: Price, Quality, Digital, Operations, and Speed/Convenience.
For the first time ever, regional players dominated the top of the list:
- H-E-B (Texas)
- Market Basket (Northeast)
- Woodman’s (Wisconsin/Illinois) – A newcomer to the top 3!
- Costco Wholesale
- Aldi
The report states that while second place in the country’s best grocers remains largely up for grabs, H-E-B sits comfortably as number one: “For now, H-E-B remains firmly entrenched as the top retailer due to its superior ability to deliver a combination of better savings, quality, experience, and assortment”.
Why Everything is Better at H-E-B Stays
The 2026 report highlights a significant shift in consumer behavior: 41% of a retailer’s long-term success is now driven by “saving customers money”—a record high for the index. Through various rewards, promotions, and competitive pricing offerings, H-E-B has continued to offer “better savings” without sacrificing “quality or assortment”.
Dunnhumby analysts noted that H-E-B succeeds by being: Obsessively local through its “Texas-first” strategy allows them to tailor products specifically to the communities they serve. Additionally, while many regional chains struggle with tech, H-E-B ranks 7th nationally in Digital capabilities, providing a seamless app and pickup experience that rivals Amazon. Last but not least, H-E-B continues to be strongly community-driven – establishing an emotional connection that national chains struggle to replicate.
As H-E-B continues its massive expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex this year, it’s clear that “No Store Does More” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a nationally recognized gold standard.