Tesco in Streatham wins SW London mystery shop

Few areas in all of the UK are so readily associated with affluence and privilege as southwest London. Neighbourhoods such as Fulham, Wimbledon and Richmond are among the most sought-after in the country, thanks to their well-kept homes, independent shops and good schools, not to mention some of the capital’s loveliest parks and commons.

Life here is quieter and more suburban compared with central London – though with a similar-sized population to Birmingham, the area cannot, of course, be leafy streets and plentiful space for all residents.

Indeed, while ‘luxury lifestyles’ over-indexes massively at 20% versus a national average of just 3.3%, according to CACI, southwest London has a similar level of people in the ‘low income living’ demographic as the UK average.

And it was one of the area’s less-wealthy areas (relatively speaking) that was home to the winner of this week’s mystery shop. The 60,527 sq ft Tesco on Streatham High Road put in this week’s best performance on availability, with just one item not stocked, on its way to a winning score of 83.

Our shopper said the best thing about his visit was the staff, who all “seemed helpful and hardworking”, while the store in general was “in excellent order” with “outstanding” variety in the fruit and veg section. He also liked the Greggs and Creams concessions, felt the store “had a good layout with clear signage” and noted that even when some mess was caused by a customer in the world foods aisle, “it was quickly cleaned up by a staff member”.

About four miles northwest, past Tooting and Wandsworth Commons, Waitrose on Wandsworth High Street took second place with 80 points. Located in Southside Shopping Centre, the 21,691 sq ft store had just two items not stocked and was “cleaned to the highest standards”, according to our shopper.

She was especially taken with the staff, with all four she approached leaving what they were doing to help before asking if she needed anything else. One “lovely lady” in particular stood out – she “made sure another customer was doing fine” even while helping our shopper. “She deserves a raise,” was the verdict.

A brisk 30-minute walk away in nearby Clapham, Asda on Lavender Hill took third place with 74 points. While it “had clearly not been updated recently”, the store was clean and offered “a wide choice of brands”. Overall, staff “seemed happy to help”, with one stopping what they were doing to “reach up to a high shelf to get an item down for me in a friendly way that did not make me feel silly”.

However, our shopper was disappointed that the 54,704 sq ft store did not have numerous items and would have liked “more staff in the self-checkout area and more manned tills open so customers did not have to wait”.

Across the river, 14 points and 14 stops on the number 295 bus away, Sainsbury’s in Fulham Broadway Retail Centre came fourth with 60 points. The tiny 12,061 sq ft store struggled on availability, with 11 items not stocked leading to a zero score.

Our shopper rated that as the “worst thing” about the shop but was fulsome in his praise for the staff, who were “really friendly and seemed happy to chat to and actually help me…they made a shop on an incredibly hot day much more pleasant than it could have been”.

Back south of the river and a further 10 points behind, Morrisons in Wimbledon picked up another zero for availability. The 18,733 sq ft store had five items out of stock and a further seven not stocked, which came alongside a “dated appearance” thanks to an “awful terracotta floor”. Our shopper “wouldn’t go back” because there are “other stores in this area that have a much nicer look and feel to them”.

However, she did note the agreeable prices and “lots of enticing offers”, along with “helpful” staff, including “a sales assistant who was handing out ice lollies to the kids, which absolutely warmed my heart” on a scorching bank holiday weekend.