The Best Grocery Store for Cheese, According to Experts

When you’re planning a meal that includes a gooey grilled cheese, a pasta dish packed with Parmesan, or an antipasto spread, your first stop is the cheese counter at the supermarket. 

Of course, we love a local cheese shop, but specialty stores aren’t always accessible — or affordable — for many home cooks, and getting all your groceries in one place is undoubtedly more convenient.

Fortunately, cheese experts agree that grocery stores can be excellent sources for finding delicious, high-quality cheeses. However, not every large supermarket cheese counter is the same. When we asked cheesemongers which grocery store cheese selection stands out above the rest, they unanimously identified one chain with thousands of locations across the United States: Kroger.

Third-generation cheese importer and owner of cheese distributor Maker to Monger, Adam Jay Moskowitz, tells Food & Wine that the best selection of cheese you’ll find at a supermarket is “Murray’s Cheese at Kroger, hands down. No question, no competition.”

Kroger acquired specialty cheese retailer Murray’s Cheese in 2017, leading to a significant expansion of artisanal cheese choices at Kroger and Kroger-owned stores, courtesy of Murray’s expertise. Moskowitz explains that “Murray’s Cheese sells products representing families, farms, and terroir that [have] been making cheese for decades, if not centuries.” 

Former cheesemonger and author of Cheese Magic, Erika Kubick, is on the same page, noting that “I usually lean heavily on the cheese counter at Mariano’s, which partners with the iconic New York-based Murray’s on its cheese selection.” As part of the Kroger family of grocery stores, Mariano’s has benefited from its acquisition of Murray’s — and so can shoppers and home cooks across the country.

What makes Kroger’s cheese counter the best?

Award-winning specialty cheese store Murray’s first opened in Greenwich Village in 1962. The shop started its cave aging program in the early 2000s, allowing it to experiment with and develop its own aged cheeses. Since its acquisition by Kroger in 2017, Murray’s has expanded its role within the chain to operate more than 1,200 cheese counters within Kroger and its banner stores. 

At Murray’s-operated cheese counters in Kroger stores, you’ll find an impressive selection of artisanal cheeses, and Moskowitz explains that the available products are “either being imported specifically for that counter or sourced locally.”

He also appreciates the level of expertise that you’ll find at Kroger cheese counters run by Murray’s, noting that “the cheesemongers there are trained as if they are working in a specialty cheese shop.” 

Murray’s director of specialty cheese, Gina Johnson, tells Food & Wine that “Training our staff is truly a central focus at Murray’s — mongers are well-versed about our products and can participate in our Red Jacket Training program, which takes their cheese mastery and our customer experience to the next level.” She points out that Murray’s cheese counters at Kroger feature more than 150 types of specialty cheeses, which are “hand-cut and wrapped by cheesemongers” daily.

What does this commitment to quality mean for your grocery shopping? Kubick explains that at Kroger’s cheese counter, “you can find everything you need, like Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano, Swiss Gruyère, and French Brie styles.”

In addition to the products you might already be looking for, there are many exciting specialty cheeses to discover. Per Kubick, “There’s also a fair amount of imports and varieties from creameries like Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont, Point Reyes in California, Beehive Cheese Company in Utah, and even Meredith Dairy in Australia.” 

Which cheeses should you try from Kroger?  

The Ciresa Taleggio — a soft, ripened, washed-rind cow’s milk cheese from Northern Italy — is a must-try for Moskowitz. He notes that this “workhorse of a cheese” has an unctuous texture with tasting notes of a “condensed milkshake with fermented cherries.” The cheese importer says it’s delicious on its own and also makes an incredible melting cheese. 

He also recommends trying Chällerhocker, a hard, Alpine, cow’s milk cheese from Switzerland. This cheese has a fudgy texture and tasting notes of brown butter and cashew with “lingering flavors of malt.” Moskowitz mentions it’s great on eggs or ham sandwiches and in fondues. 

Kubick recommends the tangy, soft La Tur and tells Food & Wine, “I’m glad I can usually find it at the Murray’s counter.” She often picks up “some Murray’s barrel-aged feta and bread cheese from Carr Valley” while at Kroger, too.

Moskowitz loves snagging the Fire on the Mountain when he can, a seasonal addition to the Murray’s counter lineup from award-winning dairy farm and cheese producer Jasper Hill. He details that “Jasper Hill Farm took its Willoughby cheese and washed it in hot sauce. Yes, hot sauce,” comparing the product’s flavor to nacho cheese. 

Kroger shoppers can enjoy a variety of seasonal cheeses at Murray’s counters as well, another benefit of the retailer’s attention to detail. (This fall, try a wedge of the Sartori Pumpkin Spice BellaVitano from Wisconsin or Marin French Petit Boo from California.)

Through the Murray’s Cheese website, you can confirm which Kroger location closest to you offers this exceptional variety of cheeses and start planning your next stunning charcuterie board.