Wegmans tops Harris reputation poll

Wegmans is No. 1 in the country when it comes to reputation, according to new Harris Poll findings.

The Rochester-based grocer with 85 stores edged past online retailer Amazon to reach the top spot for corporate reputation among the 100 most visible companies, according to the 16th annual Harris Poll Reputation Quotient study. Wegmans has about one tenth of Amazon's revenues, according to Harris Poll. Ranking third on the list, Samsung outperformed all other technology companies, surging past Apple and Google, at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively.

"To be recognized in this way is just incredible," said CEO Danny Wegman. "It always starts with our people, who thrill our customers every day and extend a family feeling in our stores across six states."

"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," said Carol M. Gstalder, Reputation & Public Relations Practice Leader for Harris Poll.

Harris Poll expanded the list to 100 companies this year, up from 60. As a result, three of the top 10 companies are debuting on the list, including No. 1 Wegmans, No. 7 L.L. Bean and No. 8 Publix Supermarkets.

According to the poll, 16 companies earn a poor reputation score, starting with Time Warner at No. 85 and down to Goldman Sachs at No. 100.

MCHAO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/MaryChaoStyle

The top 10

1. Wegmans Food Markets

2. Amazon.com

3. Samsung

4. Costco

5. Johnson & Johnson

6. Kraft Foods

7. L.L. Bean

8. Publix Supermarkets

9. Apple

10. Google