Asda fruit veg aisle

Source: Jim Gormley

Staff at Asda’s Stockport store were easy to find and ‘hard-working’

It was a narrow win for Asda’s Stockport store this week, which scored 73 points with a full basket – putting it one point ahead of Morrisons.

The store had “an efficient feel to it” with a range of amenities. Staff were easy to find and “hard-working”. An assistant helped our shopper find items “very efficiently”.

The checkout service was also good, with a “very professional” and “gentle” assistant.

Morrisons in St Andrews came second with 72 points.

The entrance contained a “very attractive display of cut flowers and plants”, and inside the fish and meat counters had “excellent displays”.

The shelves were “mainly well stocked”, but there was a puddle in one of the aisles.

Service was strong and our shopper found it possible to locate a member of staff, but there “could probably have been more available, given the number of customers”. Staff were “polite and helpful”.

Waitrose Reading came third with 68 points, thanks to its “very clean and tidy store”. However, stock levels appeared to be “a significant issue”.

The store layout was “logical and free-flowing”, featuring a “well-stocked” cheese counter with “great variety and choice”.

Staff were “smartly presented and appeared very professional” as well as “approachable and friendly”. However, of the four staff members approached, none offered to check the system or the stockroom for missing items.

Aldi came next, scoring 64 with its small store in Daventry town centre. The store did not have room for big displays, counters or services, but it was easy to navigate.

Service was good overall. Staff were neatly presented and busy restocking. One staff member was particularly helpful, fetching stock from the store room. The checkout assistant was “friendly and polite” and did not rush our shopper.

Availability was good. Just one item was not stocked – the Nescafé coffee – but there was a good alternative.

Tesco scored 59 points, which were mostly attributable to service. Staff were “happy to help” and “friendly”, while the checkout assistant “handled the items with care” to prevent them from rolling away.

However, the Chard store had many gaps in availability. Restocking trolleys impeded access, and the aisles were not very wide. Our shopper also noted a spillage in one aisle.

Sainsbury’s Tooting came sixth with “an average shopping experience”. Staff were “friendly” but the overall layout and store standards were found wanting. There was a “nice display” of flowers and plants at the entrance, but the layout was “confusing”.

Staff were helpful in locating products and were conscious of not being in the way when restocking. Checkout staff were also described as “friendly” and greeted our shopper.

Availability was poor, with five items out of stock and four not stocked.

Last this week was Lidl in Sutton, with just 29 points. Our shopper described the store as having “a cold feel”.

The fruit & vegetable section was “very messy” with prices not clearly marked. The bakery section was “well stocked but very messy”.

The checkout assistant was “pleasant”, and the store layout was “intuitive”.

However, our shopper had great difficulty locating staff, with none available on the shop floor, and had to ask a checkout assistant for help. Five items were out of stock.