Merchants · Whole Foods Market
Does Whole Foods count as groceries for credit card rewards?
· Category rules checked against issuer terms
Yes. Whole Foods is classified as a supermarket, and American Express names it as an example of a U.S. supermarket that earns grocery rewards.
Codes as
MCC 5411
Grocery Stores, Supermarkets
- U.S. supermarkets on American Express (named example)
- Grocery on other cards that reward supermarkets
- The Prime Visa's Amazon rate at U.S. Whole Foods stores
- Dining, for the hot bar or cafe inside the store
- The Prime Visa's Whole Foods rate on orders placed through Instacart or Shipt
How Whole Foods Market is coded
Whole Foods sells mostly food and household goods, so it's classified as a grocery store, even though Amazon owns it. That makes it one of the more reliable places to earn a grocery bonus.
| MCC | Category | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 5411 | Grocery Stores, Supermarkets | In-store purchases (American Express lists Whole Foods as an eligible U.S. supermarket) |
| — | Whole Foods items ordered through Amazon.com | May post as Amazon rather than Whole Foods. Not confirmed. |
How card issuers treat it
- American Express. Whole Foods is on Amex's list of example U.S. supermarkets where cardholders earn additional rewards.
- Chase. The Prime Visa pays 5% at U.S. Whole Foods stores with an eligible Prime membership. Whole Foods products bought through third parties like Instacart or Shipt are excluded from that rate.
- Chase. Chase's dining category excludes food sold inside grocery stores unless the merchant is set up as a restaurant.
Getting the most from Whole Foods Market purchases
- Use your grocery card here: Whole Foods is one of the clearest supermarket codes there is.
- Prepared food from the hot bar earns grocery, not dining.
- If you order through Instacart, it posts as Instacart, not Whole Foods.
- Look at how a recent purchase posted on your statement or in your card app. That shows the category your issuer actually assigned.
Common questions
Does Whole Foods count as groceries on the Amex Gold Card?
Yes. American Express lists Whole Foods as an example of an eligible U.S. supermarket.
Does Whole Foods count as Amazon for the Prime Visa?
Yes, at U.S. Whole Foods stores. The Prime Visa pays its Amazon rate there with an eligible Prime membership.
Does the Whole Foods hot bar count as dining?
Usually not. It rings up as the grocery store, and Chase excludes food sold inside grocery stores from dining.
How Tapd handles Whole Foods Market. Tapd checks how this exact purchase is likely to be coded, then pays with whichever of your cards earns the most on it, including when your best grocery or dining card doesn't apply.