See's Candies loses title as America's favorite candy store - as a foreign rival grabs top spot

See’s Candies has been toppled as America's favorite candy store in an annual ranking by thousands of shoppers.

Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1921, the iconic American store brand has fallen to second place in this year’s list by Newsweek.

Top spot has been taken by Lindt, the upmarket Swiss chocolatier founded in 1845, that was in third last year. 

The company set up a US arm in 1989 - bringing the European style of chocolate making, considered to be superior, across the Atlantic.

The introduction of the Lindt Gold Bunny three decades ago created a whole new market for so-called hollow figure segment that also includes Santas and reindeers for the holidays.

Topping the candy and chocolate store section this year was Lindt. See's feel to number two

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To help Americans find the best places to shop, Newsweek partnered with data intelligence platform Statista to survey 7,000 customers on their opinions on retailers spanning 40 industry categories.

Participants were asked to rank the retailer based on prices, the selection of goods, atmosphere, customer service, accessibility and how likely they would be to recommend the store.

Lindt scored 90.65 out of 100 in the ranking to take top spot among chocolate and candy stores.  

See's Candies scored 90.18 as it slipped down a space. Last year's number two, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, dropped to fifth. 

See’s Candies soon expanded after Mary See opened the first shop in 1921. By the late 1950s, there were more than 124 shops across California, and mail order arrived in the 1960s. There are now around 280 across America.

The same Newsweek survey showed that Wegmans - the upmarket store founded in Rochester, New York - lost its crown as America's favorite supermarket.

Topping the supermarket section this year was Great Wall Supermarket, an Asian American supermarket chain which opened its first store in New York City in 2003.

Among the other categories ranked by the survey participants are apparel, bridal fashion, department stores, bookstores and toy stores.

See's Candies has around 280 stores in the US, but it is no longer America's favorite confectionary shop

Swiss chocolatier Lindt is now rated as the best candy store in America

Trader Joe's tops the list for discount supermarkets this year, followed by WinCo Foods and Aldi.

Costco, meanwhile, ranks the highest when it comes to Superstores and Warehouse Club Stores.

In second place is Walmart's warehouse chain Sam's Club, followed by Target and BJ's.