The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.

Waitrose voted UK’s favourite supermarket, ousting Aldi from top spot

Asda came bottom for both in-store and online shopping experiences

Joanna Whitehead

Friday 22 February 2019 16:10 GMT

Comments

12,000 people voted in the annual Which? supermarket poll (istock)

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Waitrose has been voted the nation’s best supermarket in a league table of the UK’s favourite supermarkets, unseating Aldi who claimed last year’s top spot.

12,000 UK shoppers voted on a range of attributes in the annual supermarket survey conducted by the consumer group Which?, including value for money, store appearance and quality of fresh produce.

Only one of the UK’s “Big Four” supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda), Morrisons, made it into the top five, with Asda falling to last place. Asda also came last in a list of seven online stores.

In the list of nine bricks-and-mortar stores, budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl beat Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons.

Waitrose was the only store to score five stars for the availability and helpfulness of its staff. Shoppers also cited low queueing times and the appearance of its stores as a plus.

Marks and Spencer (M&S) came second in the supermarket rankings, while online supermarket Ocado was rated best for home delivery.

Both Waitrose and M&S were commended for the quality of their fresh produce and own-label items, factors that Which? members ranked as their top priority when supermarket shopping.

Ocado was highly rated for ease of finding products online and for the availability of delivery slots. Its range of products was rated as excellent, while its own-label goods and fresh produce were also identified as being of a good quality.

The German no-frills stores Lidl and Aldi were the only in-store supermarkets to score five stars for value for money, but customers expressed dissatisfaction with the in-store experience – both supermarkets scored just one star for range of products, staff availability and store appearance.

A spokesperson for Asda said: “Our absolute focus is delivering great quality and value for our customers.

“Whilst we’re disappointed to see that some Which? readers haven’t had a good experience with us, other independent surveys…rate Asda as the second most recommended supermarket.”

The Independent has contacted Aldi for comment.

In-store rankings

1. Waitrose

2. Marks & Spencer

3. Aldi

4. Lidl

5. Morrisons

6. Sainsbury’s

7. Tesco

8. Iceland

9. Asda

Online rankings

1. Ocado

2. Iceland

3. Waitrose

4. Tesco