Financial News

  • 20 February 2013, 15:34

Tesco: Supermarket Bottom Of Which? Survey

Tesco is the UK's least popular supermarket - and Waitrose is the most liked - according to a new survey.

Waitrose received an overall satisfaction score of 82%, including five-star ratings for its customer service and the quality of its fresh produce.

Meanwhile Tesco scored just 45% - placing it at the bottom of the poll of 11,492 people by consumer watchdog Which?

It also received poor marks for its pricing, store environment, quality of fresh produce and customer service.

Discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl came second and third best with scores of 74% and 69% respectively, beating some of their bigger rivals such as Morrisons (59%), Sainsbury's (58%) and Asda (53%).

Aldi and Lidl were the only supermarkets to get four-star ratings for their pricing, with 97% of those surveyed saying they both offer good value.

Fourth place went to Marks & Spencer with 68%, while the Co-operative scored just above Tesco with 48%.

Ocado took top spot in the online ranking with 81%, followed by Waitrose (74%), Sainsbury's (71%), Tesco (63%) and Asda (61%).

The poll revealed that consumers' biggest irritation when shopping is not being able to easily compare prices because of different unit measurements, with 37% reporting that this annoyed them.

They also wanted supermarkets to keep special offers simple, with 55% preferring straight discounts ahead of other offers such as petrol vouchers (16%) or buy-one-get-one-free deals (11%).

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Millions of customers shop regularly with Tesco and we are always looking at ways to improve their shopping experience.

"We have made a £1bn commitment to make Tesco better for our UK customers and since this survey in October 2012, we have had an encouraging Christmas and New Year and are delivering further improvements this year.

The survey was conducted before horsemeat was discovered in products sold as beef, triggering a probe by the Food Standards Agency which has embroiled British supermarkets.

what do you think?

first 20 comments

EmeraldEspinoza

6:21am on 20/2/2013

The people have spoken... Gimmicks annoy people.

Score: 17

Windows Live User

6:21am on 20/2/2013

Tesco -- Easiest way is to cut your profit and give us cheaper prices instead of looking at what others are selling products for. Also stop the "deals" on products as no one believes they are actually saving with you. Play the game fair and cheap and I dont care what you're staff say or do, or the colour of your paintwork, I will spend my money with you instead of your competition

Score: 10
1 reply

Brian Holmes

12:24pm on 20/2/2013

If you spend £1 at Tesco or any other large multiple only about 5p stays in the local economy compared to 50p-70p at a locally owned business. These large multiple bleed our local areas dry and invest the money overseas.

Score: 7

Jason Coombes

7:17am on 20/2/2013

It's true Tesco are so focused on other business, that they've forgotten that they are a supermarket first and foremost. The food produce at our main store is poor.

Score: 15

Name witheld

7:41am on 20/2/2013

This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.

Score: 14

Name witheld

7:49am on 20/2/2013

This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.

Paul Martin

8:00am on 20/2/2013

Fourth place to Marks and Spencer. .>>>>>>>>wow. The most expensively over priced food you can buy. Where did they do this survey..... in the Cotswolds !!

Score: 18
1 reply

Steven Tracey

10:56am on 20/2/2013

Our local market is always full of old dears carrying loose potatoes in a M&S bag Now that's social climbing!

Score: 5

Peter Coates

8:04am on 20/2/2013

All con artists.

Score: 14

Robbie369P .

8:31am on 20/2/2013

Think their profits will tell you a different story, which is the only statistic they care about.

Score: 20

Fred Spoons

9:11am on 20/2/2013

BOGOF? Two for a fiver? Just try to buy one for £2.50 no chance. Just a cynical way of moving stuff off the shelves; should be made illegal.

Score: 15
1 reply

Steven Tracey

10:53am on 20/2/2013

Goo a shop like Heron on the high St - you'll get it there for about a quid. Its where alot of supermarket stock goes. All well within its best before date.

Score: 6

blue side

9:13am on 20/2/2013

Interesting as a recent TV prog showed the High Street and market often cheaper but we have all been drawn in my advertising and perceived bargains

Score: 18
3 replies

market_fresh

11:46am on 20/2/2013

Very true. I am a market trader selling fresh fruit & veg.I laugh at some od the 'offers' at the supermarkets.I am often 50% cheaper. A simple phone call, text or e-mail and i will deliver for free. You will allways get best quality at the best price because i want you to come back.

Score: 8

Brian Holmes

12:19pm on 20/2/2013

Only the older generations know what real customer care is about because the supermarkets have brainwashed us into believing what they offer is quality and service. It is far from it. Keep up the good workmarket fresh and I hope you get a lot of trade from the exposure of the supermarket reality.

Score: 7

davenlesley

12:30pm on 20/2/2013

Market F. Too true. We used to shop in our local market twice a week for F & V and the value to be had was excellent. Then the local council decided to develop the area and moved the market to a backwater. It killed it stone dead.

Score: 7

ann davies

9:40am on 20/2/2013

staff in aldi and lidl so much more friendly than our local tesco. better value for money at aldi and lidl, too many tesco stores around and i think they have had more chances than all the other stores to put the gimmicks they use to rest, but the dont so bye bye tesco

Score: 16

Steven Tracey

9:48am on 20/2/2013

Tesco - the only place on the high St with 84 types of mature Cheddar on 'offer' - but no fresh bread left as they'd rather bin it than reduce it.

Score: 14

Michael Ball

10:23am on 20/2/2013

Even before the current horsemeat scandal my wife and I had given up buying fresh meat from Tesco's it's horrible. looks ok on the outside, but once cooked it has no taste at all. we brought an expensive fresh leg of lamb from them for a Sunday treat a few weeks ago and cooked it with great care. It looked good on the plate, but as for taste.... we might just as well been eating chopped card board....

Score: 9
1 reply

George Clement

12:01pm on 20/2/2013

We bought a leg of lamb from Tesco's a few weeks ago and it was horrible. We also bought a tray of fresh beefburgers there back end if last summer for BBQ and they were disgusting, the dog had them. Shop at Morrison's their meat is much better and their Scottish beef beefburgers much better.

Score: 7

gerard levy

10:31am on 20/2/2013

You pay for what you get people

Score: 10
2 replies

gordon

12:29pm on 20/2/2013

You don't always get what you pay for. Tesco and particularly M&S are expensive and can hold the manufacturer to ransom as most of the independents have closed. The manufacturers were warned about this situation 40 years ago and did n't believe it could happen.

Score: 9

Brian Holmes

12:35pm on 20/2/2013

Gordon, that's true. We are now in the grip of cartels.

Score: 8

davenlesley

10:42am on 20/2/2013

Work on the basis of:- You get nowt for nowt at (insert name) Tesco, Asda,Sainsburys, Morrisons, Waitrose. and you shouldn't go far wrong.

Score: 9

Mark Ashpole

12:06pm on 20/2/2013

Tesco food is terrible quality.meat fruit and veg all goes off far quicker than morrisons and its more expensive.im glad the people have spoken

Score: 10
1 reply

davenlesley

12:32pm on 20/2/2013

Mark. I like Morrisons F & V and you are spot on about Tescos overpriced offerings

Score: 9

Brian Holmes

12:28pm on 20/2/2013

Give your trade to a local business who will use the income to pay their mortgage and raise their family instead of some CEO buying his third holiday home.

Score: 13

jeni sperber

12:44pm on 20/2/2013

Wish I could afford waitrose

Score: 10

Rob Shaw

12:57pm on 20/2/2013

I took part in that poll! Looks like every little does count!

Score: 11

Brian Holmes

1:06pm on 20/2/2013

I went to Tesco yesterday evening as I needed some lighbulbs. Shock horror! I'm not paying that! Went to a local high street shop this morning and got the same bulbs for a little over half Tesco's price and got a few household cleaning products at a fraction of their price as well! Estimated total saving about £5.25. It pays to walk.

Score: 12
Advertisement