Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Central Market are the three grocery chains Consumer Reports identified as earning top marks for their store brands in a member survey. That is a useful shortlist—not a current, definitive ranking of every U.S. grocer or a guarantee that every product from those chains is good. For shoppers, the better question is which store-brand products offer the right mix of quality, price, and availability for their household.
Which grocery store has the best store brands?
Consumer Reports’ member survey singled out Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Central Market for top marks on store brands. Central Market is an H-E-B subsidiary and a regional option, so it is not available to shoppers everywhere. The survey provides chain-level shopper sentiment, not a current head-to-head test of every retailer’s full private-label range. Consumer Reports’ survey findings are best read as a starting point for choosing where to shop.
Private labels matter to many shoppers. Consumer Reports, citing the Food Marketing Institute’s 2023 report, says 96% of U.S. grocery shoppers buy store brands at least occasionally and 46% buy private brands most or all of the time. A separate FMI survey of 1,539 U.S. grocery shoppers found that 53% said store private brands influenced their choice of store in 2024, compared with 35% in 2016, as reported by Store Brands. Those figures describe buying habits and self-reported store choice; they do not show that a particular chain’s products are superior.
How to compare grocery chains’ private labels
A strong reputation can help narrow your options, but private-label quality is experienced one item at a time. Consumer Reports assessed 70 products from 10 retailers and reported different results across products and categories. Its more recent guidance also says testers found numerous private-label pantry staples that equaled or beat familiar brands. A win for one food does not establish that a retailer’s entire range is better. Consumer Reports’ product comparison illustrates why category-level and item-level evidence should stay distinct.
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- Quality evidence: Check whether a claim comes from a named product test, a shopper survey, or general brand perception. They answer different questions.
- Value: Compare the same type of product and similar package sizes, using unit prices where available. The sources here do not establish a current nationwide matched-price basket across the leading chains.
- Assortment: Trader Joe’s and warehouse clubs may carry different assortments from conventional supermarkets. Consider whether a store stocks the categories and products you routinely need.
- Access and household fit: Central Market is regional. A warehouse-club format may also be less convenient if its package sizes or storage needs do not suit your household.
- Category: Taste and quality can vary across pantry staples, dairy, frozen foods, snacks, and other categories. Look for evidence about the product you plan to buy.
What the evidence says about each chain
| Chain or label | What is established | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Trader Joe’s | Consumer Reports’ member survey identified it as one of three grocers earning top marks for store brands. Its food coverage also includes individual Trader Joe’s products. Survey; food coverage. | The survey is not a current test of every Trader Joe’s product or a guarantee of quality across categories. |
| Costco / Kirkland Signature | Consumer Reports’ survey also identified Costco as a leader. Its food coverage names specific Kirkland products, including Extra Fancy Mixed Nuts. Survey; food coverage. | A chain-level survey result or a result for one named item cannot rank Kirkland’s entire range. |
| Central Market | It was the third grocer Consumer Reports’ survey identified as earning top marks; it is a regional H-E-B subsidiary. Consumer Reports’ survey. | The survey result does not make Central Market a practical option outside the regions it serves or certify every product it sells. |
| Aldi | YouGov’s 2025 U.S. grocery ranking surfaced Aldi on value, based on BrandIndex data collected from February 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025. YouGov’s ranking. | This is value perception, not a product-quality test or proof that Aldi is cheapest for every shopper. |
| Walmart Bettergoods | The Associated Press reported that Walmart introduced the range in 2024 across several grocery categories. AP’s launch coverage. | Launch details do not establish the current assortment, current prices, or a comparative quality ranking. |
| Target Good & Gather and Sam’s Club Member’s Mark | Both labels appear in Consumer Reports food coverage. Consumer Reports’ food coverage. | Coverage of selected products does not support an overall chain rank. |
How much weight should you give value rankings?
Value and quality are separate questions. YouGov’s 2025 U.S. grocery report, using BrandIndex data collected between February 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, surfaced Aldi on value and Costco on quality. Those findings are brand-perception context, not the result of a matched price comparison or a private-label product test. The report does not show which chain will cost less for a particular household’s regular basket.
Market-wide figures also explain why store brands are increasingly visible without ranking any one chain. The Associated Press reported Circana data showing private brands accounted for nearly 26% of U.S. food-and-beverage unit share in 2023, up from 24.7% in 2022. For core pantry items, private brands had 36.6% of dollar share in 2023 versus 36.2% in 2019. These are historical U.S. market figures, not current retailer rankings. The AP report also said Walmart expected Bettergoods to reach 300 products by fall 2024 and that most launch products were priced below $5; those were launch-era details, not current price guidance.
Quick Recap
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Rank #3
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Rank #2
- SPACE-SAVING DESIGN - This collapsible basket folds flat in seconds to just 2.25" high, making it easy to store in your trunk, pantry, garage, or apartment without taking up valuable space.
- STRONG YET LIGHTWEIGHT - Durable polypropylene plastic storage baskets hold up to 25 lbs per basket while weighing only 2.2 lbs, ideal for groceries, camping gear, or everyday errands — not intended for heavy overloading.
A practical way to choose store-brand products
- Start with the store you can use regularly. Account for location, trip convenience, and whether a warehouse-club format fits your shopping and storage habits.
- Compare the item, not just the label. Match product type, size, and unit price; read the package details that matter to you, such as ingredients or nutrition.
- Use product-specific evidence. Treat a test result as applying to the product and category actually evaluated—not every item carrying the same store label.
- Try one item at a time. For foods where preference matters, a small first purchase limits the cost of finding a product that does not suit your taste.
- Recheck prices and availability locally. Assortments and prices can vary by store and over time; the available sources do not provide a current nationwide comparison.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
