M&S has nudged out Waitrose and fought off competition from discounter Aldi to top an annual supermarket satisfaction survey.
Which? asked more than 3,000 members of the public in October last year about their in-store and online shopping experience at the UK's biggest supermarkets, looking at a range of factors including store appearance, product range and value for money.
The traditional “big four” of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons fell to the bottom half of the ranking of the 10 major grocers for their in-store experiences, suggesting that the middle ground between quality and cheaper food is less appealing to shoppers during a cost-of-living crisis, Which? said.
Co-op achieved 61 per cent, only one star for value for money and two stars for availability, range and quality, making it the worst performer.
M&S got the highest overall customer score of 77 per cent for its in-store offer, earning praise for the quality of its own-label and fresh products, customer service and store appearance.
However, both M&S and Waitrose fell down on value for money, achieving only two out of five stars.
Waitrose and Aldi came joint second with scores of 73 per cent, highlighting the success of the German discounter’s efforts to compete with the high-end grocers.
Aldi scored four stars for value for money and the quality of its fresh products but only two stars for stock availability and queue waiting times.
Iceland and Lidl rounded out the top five, both scoring 69 per cent.
Ocado topped the ranking for best online grocer retailer, achieving a customer score of 81 per cent.
Iceland and Waitrose scored joint second for online shopping with scores of 76 per cent, both scoring highly for availability of delivery slots, range of products and customer service at collection and delivery.
Morrisons fell to the bottom of the table for online shopping, scoring 66 per cent and only two stars for value for money, stock availability and the choice of substitute items.
“Our results highlight how many shoppers are prioritising value for money above all else but, for those who can afford it, high-quality products and a positive shopping experience still really matter,” Which? retail editor Reena Sewraz said.
“None of the supermarkets received five stars for value in-store, but the discounters still led the way in this category.”
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
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