This Grocery Store Was Just Voted Best in America, and It Totally Surprised Us

Spoiler: It’s not Aldi or Trader Joe’s.

Everyone has that one grocery store that they're die-hard fans of. We have the Aldi fanatics, Trader Joe’s connoisseurs, and the warehouse-shopping aficionados of Sam’s Club and Costco. But a recent panel of experts and grocery store lovers declared this Midwest grocery chain as the best—and no, it’s not Aldi. Sorry.

Hy-Vee Is the Best Grocery Store in America, According to New Survey

Okay, put down those pitchforks. I understand why this is such a controversial statement, but the data doesn’t lie. The survey was conducted by "10 Best by USA Today," which started with an expert panel selecting 10 of the best grocery stores nationwide based on value, selection, and service. Readers then voted for their favorites. The one to triumph over all of them? Midwestern-based grocery king, Hy-Vee.

In defending their choice, USA Today wrote, “Employee-owned Hy-Vee's slogan is ‘a helpful smile in every aisle,’ and you'll find those grins in more than 280 stores across the Midwest. Hy-Vee works with farmers to provide locally grown fruits and vegetables, and many of the locations offer food counters with colossal salad bars and items like meatloaf, Asian food, pizza, and fried chicken.”

If you haven’t been to a Hy-Vee, I implore you to run towards your nearest one! Growing up in Colorado, I wasn’t introduced to the beauty of Hy-Vee until I went off to college in Iowa, and my world immediately changed. Sure, the store has incredible deals, but can we take a moment to acknowledge Hy-Chi? My sorority (boom boom, Alpha Delta Pi) should’ve been sponsored by the delectable takeout-style Chinese food that Hy-Vee offered. So, the next time you find yourself among the cornfields of the Midwest, stop by your local Hy-Vee. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Read the original article on All Recipes.