H-E-B vs Kroger:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Kroger had more branded searches than H-E-B among grocery chains in the United States. Kroger had about 7.5 million branded searches, while H-E-B had 1.8 million. Kroger made up 12.8% of all grocery chain searches we track, and H-E-B accounted for 3.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about grocery chains, H-E-B appeared in two of the three answers and Kroger in one. H-E-B was mentioned before Kroger in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Kroger, about 4 searches for every 1 for H-E-B
Who does AI mention more?
H-E-B, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Kroger in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
H-E-B, named ahead of Kroger in 2 of 2 answers
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Top grocery chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, H-E-B was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Kroger was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. H-E-B was listed before Kroger in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Aldi1st
Trader Joe's2nd- H-E-B3rd
Publix4th
Whole Foods Market5th
WinCo Foods5th
Wegmans7th- Kroger8th
Safeway–
Meijer–- +2 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Aldi3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Trader Joe's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Whole Foods Market2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- H-E-B2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- WinCo Foods2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Kroger1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Publix1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Wegmans1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Safeway0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Meijer0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about grocery chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which grocery store chain is the best in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best supermarket chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which grocery chain in the US has the lowest prices?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“grocery stores”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“supermarkets”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Is H-E-B or Kroger more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for H-E-B and Kroger by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 grocery chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Kroger, H-E-B. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Trader Joe's | Aldi | Kroger | Safeway | Publix | Meijer | Food Lion | Wegmans | Whole Foods Market | H-E-B | WinCo Foods | Albertsons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.9% | 18% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 24.9% | 16.7% | 13.7% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 5% | 4.1% | 5% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 23.7% | 15.8% | 13% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 23% | 18.8% | 12.6% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 25.5% | 17.2% | 14% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 3% | 2.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 27.1% | 18.1% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 23.8% | 19.4% | 13.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| May 2026 | 26.8% | 18% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 2.6% | 3% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.2% | 18.2% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.7% | 18.6% | 12.5% | 10.2% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 23.3% | 19% | 12.8% | 8.6% | 7% | 7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 28.5% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 8.6% | 7% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.6% |
How has the H-E-B and Kroger comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kroger was ahead of H-E-B in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, H-E-B’s share of searches among grocery chains in the United States moved from 3% to 3.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.8M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kroger’s share of searches among grocery chains in the United States moved from 12.1% to 12.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 7.5M.
How did search popularity change for United States grocery chains in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, H-E-B rose from 11th to 10th among grocery chains in the United States.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using H-E-B’s and Kroger’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among grocery chains
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