Inadequate checkout lanes, crowded aisles, out-of-stocks and limited assortment were amongst the most typical complaints in Consumer Reports yearly take a look at supermarket customer contentment.
The report which narrated over 48,000 supermarket experiences from 27,208 respondents discovered that more than half of those surveyed had a least one grievance about their existing supermarket, and practically a third cited two or additional information gripes. The supermarkets were ranked on a 100-point scale with Wegmans taking the top area and Walmart finishing dead last.
Here is a look at the 10 supermarkets that finished at the bottom of the positions starting with last-place finisher Walmart.
Wal-Mart: Consumers who shopped the nation’s biggest grocer complained about lack of open checkouts, out-of-stock regular products, indifferent employees, spotty pricing, and complicated store layout. Score: 67
Shaw’s Supermarkets: The chain earned adverse marks for rate, with over 10 % of participants citing an overcharge in the past year. The New England based Shaw’s was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management a year ago. Score: 69
Pathmark: The chain located in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania did fine on price and assortment, however scored below par on service and cleanliness. Score: 70
Acme: Like Shaw’s, Acme was scoped up by Cerberus Capital Management last year. The struggling chain with locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland earned above average scores on cleanliness but was not able to overcome its negative price rating and found itself near the bottom of the list. Score: 70
Pick ‘n Save: 32 % of shoppers complained that Wisconsin’s Pick ‘n Save did not have advertised specials in stock. The chain did receive an above-average rating on cleanliness. Score: 72
Tops: Despite its name the New York and Pennsylvania chain finished near the bottom of the list. Shoppers are unhappy with the chain’s prices, complaining of constant out of stocks of advertised specials. Score: 72
Jewel-Osco: Like numerous of the other supermarkets completing near all-time low of Consumer Reports’ positions, Mid-West based Jewel-Osco was recently acquired by Cerberus Capital Management. Shoppers reported clean and tidy establishments, but pricing concerns dooming the chain to the bottom of the ranking. Rating: 72
Stop & Shop: The Northeast supermarket chain’s clients usually complained about cost. Stop & Shop is among the more customer-facing, tech-savvy grocery stores on this list with scan as you go universal product code scanners, and an online shopping experience. Score: 72
Food Lion: The Southern chain received average scores in every category analyzed, but excelled in none. Strategies are in place to enhance the check-out experience. Score: 72
Safeway: Earlier this year the chain was obtained by Cerberus Capital Management’s Albertsons supermarket. In spite of being the 2nd largest supermarket in the United States behind Walmart, Safeway has failed to impress customers. Score: 73
