America’s Best Grocery Store Has Just 8 Locations in Illinois

Riddle me this, Batman. How does a grocery store just get voted to be the best chain in America yet only have 8 locations in Illinois? Perhaps you can help me solve this mystery.

The number one grocery chain that was just voted the best by the readers of USA Today isn't a common one

If you look at USA Today's 10 best grocery stores in America list, you'll see some well-known names. I have never heard of the grocery store voted #1, though. It's The Fresh Market which only has 8 stores in Illinois according to their official website. It says that there are a grand total of 166 stores in 22 states and, yes, Illinois is one of them, but they're not on every street corner. The only stores you'll find from this chain in Illinois are clustered in the Chicagoland area.

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Why is The Fresh Market ranked so high by customers even though there aren't many stores compared to competitors?

The USA Today ranking mentions they go after the feel of European grocery markets instead of the big box store warehouse brands that are common in America. They want a more personalized experience apparently. It must be working as this is a very prestigious customer ranking to be at the top of. Just don't expect to find any in a small town in Illinois that isn't within a stone's throw of Chicago, though.