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This winner of this week’s grocery poll category is a familiar sight every few blocks in metro Phoenix.
That’s because this grocery chain, voted the best overall grocery store in metro Phoenix, is also the one with the most stores with 131 locations across Arizona.
In April, we asked readers to vote for their favorite grocery store in several categories, from best prices to best bakery. Hundreds of people responded.
Four different grocery stores won across the eight different categories. Homegrown luxury chain AJ’s Fine Foods picked up the most wins, with readers loving its deli, prepared foods, butcher and bakery.
This week, we’re revealing the results of the metro Phoenix grocery store voted as being the best overall.
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Fry’s named reader’s choice for best overall grocery store in metro Phoenix
Fry’s won the title of readers’ favorite grocery store with 23% of the votes. Trader Joe’s and Costco came in second and third with 13% and 11%, respectively.
Rhonda Keene is a frequent Fry’s shopper and was perusing the aisles at the Fry’s Marketplace on Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway in Scottsdale. Although she also shops regularly at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, she understands why Fry’s was voted best overall.
“It’s cheaper and it has everything you need,” Keene said.
Originally founded in California in 1954, Fry’s expanded into Arizona in the 1960s. Fry’s was sold to Dillons in 1972, which then merged with Kroger in 1983.
Different Fry’s have different specialties. Fry’s Signature stores, like the one on North Hayden Road in Scottsdale, have soup, salad and olive bars and an expanded assortment of wine and kosher items.
Fry’s Marketplace stores carry more nongrocery items like toys and furniture. And Fry’s Mercado, of which there is only one store in the whole state, is aimed at Hispanic customers.
Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.
