thegrocer.co.uk
  subscribe for full access    |   contact us    |   about us    |   advertise    |   sitemap  
Welcome visitor      Register  |  Login
thegrocer.co.uk   Search    

Waitrose tops Which? poll for happy shoppers

In: Retailers, Industry news

| More

Waitrose tops Which? poll for happy shoppersWaitrose has emerged top of the major retailers for customer satisfaction in a new survey by consumer body Which?.

The retailer was awarded a score of 79% for customer satisfaction, comfortably ahead of upmarket rival Marks & Spencer on 64%.

Discounters Aldi and Lidl both placed ahead of the big four supermarkets, each notching up a score of 61%. Sainsbury’s led the big four with a score of 58%, with Morrisons on 56% and Tesco and Asda both scoring just 49%.

“The success of some budget supermarkets in our survey proves that savvy shoppers can make the most of their money without compromising on quality,” said Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith.

Meanwhile, a separate survey found that the UK’s retail sector provided the highest level of customer satisfaction in the country.

The John Lewis Partnership and Waitrose took the top two places for individual companies in the survey, with M&S third, while food retailers broadly outperformed non-food.

“It is no coincidence that retail has turned in such a strong performance in the latest UK Customer Service Index – and that we are seeing strong Christmas trading results from retailers such as John Lewis, Morrisons and Tesco,” said Jo Causon, chief executive of the UK Institute of Customer Service.

“The retail sector is intensely competitive and cannot afford to take its eye off the ball when it comes to customer service – especially during the recession, when consumers are careful about where they spend their money, and retailers are having to fight for every penny.”

Read more
Waitrose sets Christmas pace with 9% sales hike (5 January 2010)
Waitrose launches ‘vital’ frozen range (19 December 2009)

Comments: 3


Login or Register to post a comment...

[Anonymous] 05/02/2010 12:38:09

Our survey doesn't take into account the respondents' incomes, but I think it's safe to assume that Waitrose (and John Lewis) do offer excellent service. The reasons are open to interpretation: maybe they invest more in service and training or maybe their economic model makes their staff happier (and therefore more helpful). It's also worth noting that ASDA and Iceland perform very well (see http://ukcsi.com/top_10.php#food for a top 10 of food retail companies). Leon, web editor, Institute of Customer Service


[Anonymous] 29/01/2010 13:32:30

Waitrose is great as long as you can afford to go there. Those friendly people aren't free, you do pay for them!

 I wonder if the people doing this survey asked the respondants general 'happiness' questions as well as ones specifically about their supermarket. I would be very surprised if those people who can afford to shop at Waitrose are not 'happier' overall, money tends to do that.

though my favourite quote comes from Stephen fry:

"What's so good about Sainsburys? It keeps the scum out of Waitrose"


Very Ordinary Joe 29/01/2010 10:32:15

which just goes to show that value isn't everything.
The experience at Waitrose is generally far more personable that at major rivals. Perhaps that's what attracts their custom. The experience is far calmer than the cattle market crush elsewhere. Assistants are helpful, check out operators not totally  pre-occupied with 'scan rates' and will make polite conversation, indeed there ARE checkout operators.
Well done Waitrose!  Customers are people.  Service matters Satisafction matters.


Page: 1 of 1   


Features
> News and analysis
> Product news
> Reports
> Convenience Store news
> Events
> Latest FMCG TV ads
> Archive
News direct to you
> Newsfeeds (RSS)
> Email alerts
> The Grocer: digital edition
> Convenience Store: digital edition
> Subscribe
> Accessibility
About this website
> About us
> Terms and Conditions
> Privacy Policy
> Sitemap
> Register
> Advertise
GrocerJobs
> Job search
> A-Z of recruiters
> Jobs by email
> Create a profile
> Careers advice
> Advertise jobs
Related websites
> William Reed subscriptions
> Food manufacture news
> Hospitality news and jobs
> Pub news and property
> Food industry directory
> News for wholesalers
> Forecourt retailer news
William Reed Business Media Ltd. © William Reed Business Media Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.
Registered Office: Broadfield Park, Crawley RH11 9RT. Registered in England No. 2883992. 
VAT No. 644 3073 52.