Ahead of the PM’s announcement of a relaxation to lockdown measures last weekend, issues with social distancing and availability were actually less evident than the previous week.
Indeed there was a marked improvement in scores across the board, with Tesco’s Aldershot store pipping Waitrose by just a single point.
Tesco picked up extra points for standards thanks to its system for anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitisers as well as good offers on gondola ends. Tesco also gained full marks for its logical layout, with the one-way system making our shopper feel safe.
Shelves were tidy and full, with staff topping up areas where necessary. There was only one item missing from the Tesco basket (peanut butter).
Despite a 15-minute queue to get in, “generally, I felt this was a good experience under the circumstances, and better than other stores in recent weeks,” our Tesco shopper added.
At Waitrose there was no queue. And, as with Tesco the store felt calm and ordered, with staff - some wearing masks and gloves - helping create and maintain a safe atmosphere and plenty of safety notices on view.
The Waitrose mystery shopper “was really surprised at how quiet the store was after passing it on Saturday and pleased that “shelves were all well stocked well,” but “didn’t notice trolley handles being cleaned, which was disappointing.” A spillage in the milk aisle also cost Waitrose marks.
Morrisons in Liverpool suffered from lower store standards and availability scores due to “obvious shortages” in some aisles, with the wrapped bakery section and egg shelves almost entirely bare and fresh fruit & veg, crisps and home baking half-depleted. Shelf-stacking only started about halfway through our shopper’s time in store.
In total five items were missing from the list (four out of stock and one not stocked), including organic milk, cocoa powder, tinned tuna in olive oil and own-label chocolate wafers.
But the shopper was impressed by the organisation and management of the social distancing measures. Barriers outside created a separate area for any queues, with markings to aid customers maintaining two metres between each other and plenty of signs highlighting priority hours and advising elderly shoppers could skip to the front at any time of the day.
“Staff seemed to be taking it seriously and managing effectively the necessity for social distancing,” our shopper said. “I felt that as a customer my safety was being considered.” The store was also “sparkling” clean and staff were helpful, but the layout wasn’t easy to navigate, which made for a longer shop as she searched for products.
Sainsbury’s in Strathaven had the worst availability score of the week, with six missing lines (five out of stock and one not stocked). However, the “calm and very clean” supermarket scored well in all other areas.
Staff, who weren’t wearing PPE, remained a safe distance from shoppers while they were restocking, moving out of the way to allow access to items when needed.
“This was a lovely store to shop in,” our shopper said. “The staff have carried out social distancing well.”
Asda in Preston finished bottom of the pile with “messy” pasta and confectionery aisles and large packs of nappies abandoned in the middle of the floor losing points. Staff restocking caused obstructions in some aisles, making passing more difficult,and customers ignored the one-way system, compromising social distancing measures.
“Staff should have policed shoppers more carefully to enforce the two-metre rule,” our shopper said. “I am vigilant about hand sanitising before leaving and on re-entering my car. As the distancing had not been successful during this shop, I felt hand sanitising after leaving was especially necessary.”
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