M&S has been named a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) with an overall customer score for in-store performance of 79%
Marks and Spencer has been named the best UK supermarket in an annual Which? survey.
The posh retailer was named a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) with an overall customer score for in-store performance of 79%. M&S scored five stars for store appearance, stock availability, range of products and overall quality of own-label and fresh produce, but only three stars for value for money.
None of the supermarkets in the survey received five stars for value for money. Aldi came in joint third, along with Iceland and Waitrose, with each supermarket scoring 72% in the in-store category. Aldi was recently crowned cheapest supermarket of 2024 by Which? and while it received four stars for value for money, some shoppers complained about long checkout queues and badly stocked stores.
Which? split its survey into in-store performance and online performance. A total of 3,206 shoppers took part in the annual survey and rated supermarkets they used in the last year on everything from store appearance and queueing time, to delivery and choice of substitutions. M&S was not included in the online survey, as its food is delivered through Ocado, while Aldi and Lidl do not offer online delivery.
Tesco moved up the rankings and came second place in both the in-store and online categories, with scores of 74% and 79% respectively. Tesco missed out on WRP status as it doesn’t let under-18s access lower Clubcard prices. In the online category, Ocado and Sainsbury’s were named as WRPs.
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.
“Not everyone has a choice about where they can buy their groceries, which is why it’s important that supermarkets do all they can to ensure their lowest prices are available to all. 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.”