tesco customer shopper and staff

Better availability helped Tesco sneak ahead of Waitrose for the win this week on a wet and stormy Sunday afternoon shop.

The “bright and spacious” store in Southend-on-Sea almost managed a full basket, with just one line not stocked. The “friendly and willing” staff, logical layout and “enticing” gondola-end promotions also contributed to Tesco’s score.

Strong marks across the board for Waitrose in Glasgow were let down by four unavailable items (two out of stock and two not stocked). “Alert and very helpful” staff helped the retailer pick up maximum points for shop-floor service.

Store standards slipped at Sainsbury’s in Walsall, with restocking trolleys, empty cardboard boxes and wet-floor signs causing obstructions. Staff were helpful and friendly, and availability was good, with just two products missing.

High scores for service and checkout were hampered by low availability at Morrisons in Jarrow, with store standards also disappointing thanks to empty shelves in the fruit and veg section and lots of gaps and empty boxes throughout the store. Our shopper found the large store to be “well-kept, clean and tidy”, with “helpful, polite and cheerful” - albeit hard to find - staff.

Asda in Weston-super-Mare picked up average marks throughout the shop, which our mystery shopper found to be “bland”. Staff were neither particularly friendly or personable and it was slow-going at checkout. Our shopper was also unimpressed that only plastic bags were available in the fresh department.