Who we visited

Budgens, Hackett Place, Paxcroft Mead, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

MAce, Ashwell Road, Oakham, Leicestershire

londis, Talbot Street, Coalville, Leicestershire

tesco express Amersham Road, Terriers, Buckinghamshire

spar, Manor Road South, Hinchley Wood, Surrey

How they performed

The Budgens store in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, had sold out of individual tins of Whiskas in jelly, but had six-packs available for £2.96. The store had a promotional offer available of 50% additional volume free on the 250g package of Tetley tea bags.

Our mystery shopper at the Mace store on Ashwell Road in Oakham, Leicestershire, was disappointed by what she found. The small store, on a main road near an estate, was generally untidy and not well maintained. One saving grace was the staff, who she said were friendly and helpful. The store only stocked four of the ten items on her shopping list.

The employees at the Londis store in Coalville, Leicestershire, were extremely helpful and polite, but could have done more work on their merchandising: many products had no prices visible at all on the packaging or the shelving. Otherwise, the small store was clean and well laid out.

There was a bogof offer on the six pack of unsmoked bacon and all the items we were looking for were in stock.

Our mystery shopper was not able to find several items she needed at the Amersham Road Tesco Express store in Terriers, Buckinghamshire. The shop was sold out of the cheapest block butter and loaf of white bread. The Tesco Express also stocked eight-packs of unsmoked bacon rashers, but not the six-pack she needed. However, she found that the store was in immaculate condition and the staff were very helpful.

The Spar convenience store on Manor Road in Hinchley Wood, Surrey, was in tip-top shape when our mystery shopper visited late one evening. She said it was extremely clean, well-organised and the staff were very polite.

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