Wegmans Food Markets achieved the No. 1 ranking in the 16th annual Harris Poll Reputation Quotient study, a ranking of companies perceived by their reputation.
The Rochester, N.Y., company, with an overall score of 84.36, edged past Amazon.com to take the top slot this year. Costco Wholesale Corp. ranked No. 4 with a score of 81.98 and Publix Super Markets (80.73) ranked 8th. Harris said companies with a score of 80 or above had “excellent reputations.”
Wegmans was the only company to rank among the top five rated companies in each of the six dimensions comprising the overall reputation score — social responsibility; emotional appeal; products and services; vision and leadership; financial performance; and workplace environment, Harris said.

"Reputation is far from static and is a business asset that is earned every day as people evaluate companies through the lens of what matters most to them. Wegmans has spent years building a sterling reputation in the communities they serve, through its employees, one shopping experience at a time," Carol M. Gstalder, reputation and public relations practice leader for Harris Poll, said in a statement.
Whole Foods Market (No. 21; with a 78.47 overall score) and Kroger (32; 76.29) each earned a “very good” ranking while Aldi (44; 74.78) had a “good” designation. Target (63; 70.99), Safeway (67; 69.70) and Walmart (84; 65.05) all finished with “fair” reputation scores.