Best in-store UK supermarket named with Tesco and Aldi in second and third

M&S has been crowned the best in-store supermarket by consumer group Which? for the fourth year in a row.

The best and worst supermarkets have been revealed – including for self checkouts and value for money. M&S has been crowned the best in-store supermarket by consumer group Which? for the fourth year in a row.

Which? gave each supermarket a score based on nine criteria: value for money, self service, stock availability, range of products, overall quality, store appearance, queuing time, overall customer service, staff helpfulness, and M&S ranked 79 per cent – ahead of Tesco and Aldi in second and third. Iceland was fourth, Waitrose fifth and Sainsbury’s sixth, with Lidl in the bottom three alongside Asda and Morrisons.

One customer said of M&S to Which?: “It’s a real treat to shop there – great quality products that I don’t mind spending a bit more on.” Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said: “Our supermarket survey shows that a good shopping experience and quality products really matter to consumers – and M&S beating its rivals to the top spot shows some shoppers are prepared to pay a bit more for that.

“Aldi, Lidl or Iceland may be the preferred choice for those who prioritise affordability above all else. For people lucky enough to have a choice of supermarkets, mixing and matching to get the right mix of quality and bargain prices might be the right approach.”

Reena Sewraz added: “For supermarkets that have loyalty schemes, this includes ensuring as many customers as possible are able to access the lower prices they offer without being excluded by age, address or digital access requirements.”

A loyal customer told Which?: “Ocado gives the best all-round experience of all the online retailers.” A total of 3,206 shoppers took part in the annual survey which considers a range of factors.

Asda scored two stars for everything from value for money, customer service, stock availability and store appearance. But its returning CEO, Allan Leighton, has pledged to “restore Asda’s DNA”, which will include cutting prices.