Neeti Upadhye

Democrat & Chronicle

Wegmans Food Markets has been ranked the No. 1 supermarket in the country by customers in the latest Consumer Reports' survey. Wal-Mart Superstore is ranked last in the list of 55 chains.

More than 27,000 readers rated the nation's major grocery stores based on service, quality of perishables, prices and cleanliness.

Both Wegmans and Trader Joe's earned the highest marks for service, defined by employee courtesy and checkout speed.

Other stores with high marks include Publix, Costco, Sprouts Farmers Market and Market Basket.

Wegmans received an overall rating of 88 out of 100, with 100 representing "completely satisfied."

"We have always believed that if you meet the needs of your employees they will in turn take care of your customers," Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale told the Democrat & Chronicle. "That has been the central philosophy of this company for many years and it has a proven track record of working."

It certainly must be working — Wegmans also topped two other lists of best supermarkets by Consumer Reports, released in 2009 and 2012. The New York-based chain now has stores in six states along the East Coast, and three stores in the Boston area are expected to open in the near future.

"What sets us apart, above all, is our employees," Natale said. "It is very gratifying to see their efforts in delivering incredible customer services, high quality and low prices recognized."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wal-Mart Supercenter scored a 67, Shaw's a 69, and both Pathmark and Acme a 70. Eighty percent of shoppers had at least one problem while shopping at Wal-Mart Supercenter, which is also the biggest chain in the survey with the most shoppers surveyed.

The Consumer Reports National Research Center is comprised of social scientists, including 9 Ph.D.s.

Contributing: Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY Network