These 4 NJ Grocery Store Chains Make List Of Nation's Best

There are hundreds of grocery store chains across the United States, but only 10 of them made USA Today's list. The select few were nominated by an expert panel and chosen by readers.

Four of those chains have locations in New Jersey - Wegmans at No. 10, Aldi at No. 7, Stew Leonard's at No. 5, and The Fresh Market at No. 1.

The Fresh Market topped the list as it was "inspired by the food markets of Europe — a place where shoppers could have a more intimate and personalized experience than the warehouse-style supermarkets of the time," according to USA Today's 10Best. The chain now operates 166 locations in 22 states. The Fresh Market has two stores in New Jersey - in Bedminster and Montvale.

Stew Leonard's first started as a small dairy in 1969 with seven employees in Connecticut. The chain gradually expanded to add a grocery store with annual sales of more than $500 million. They have locations in Clifton and Paramus.

Discount grocer Aldi is known for its no-frills shopping experience that keeps prices low. The stores also restock fresh fruits and vegetables every day and feature a liberal return policy known as the "Twice As Nice Guarantee," according to the survey. Aldi has 64 locations in New Jersey.

Started in 1916 in Rochester, New York, Wegmans has expanded its footprint significantly in recent years with over 100 stores in nine states. Customers in the survey liked the prepared foods, one-stop shopping, seasonal fare, and the chain's charitable efforts. Wegmans has 9 locations in the Garden State.

Here's the full top 10 list:

1. The Fresh Market
2. Hy-Vee
3. Fresh Thyme Market
4. Natural Grocers
5. Stew Leonard's
6. Gelson's Market
7. Aldi
8. Heinen's Grocery Store
9. Publix Super Markets
10. Wegmans Food Markets

Check out the full article at USA Today 10Best.