Waitrose has been rated the UK’s favourite retailer - and was the only grocery retailer to make the top five - a survey by retail analyst Verdict has shown.
The Consumer Satisfaction Index 2007, complied from responses by 6,000 shoppers, rated Waitrose top in terms of quality, ambience and layout.
The retailer also scored highly on customer service.
The report concluded that, in a grocery market where scale and expansion into non-food offers are seen as all-important, Waitrose has succeeded by focusing on quality and offering shoppers something different.
The announcement comes as the retailer reported strong sales growth.
Sales for the year ending January 27 increased by 11 per cent to £3.7 billion. This was driven by a 5.3 per cent rise in like-for-like sales and turnover contribution from the 10 stores the company added over the year. Profits increased by five per cent to £244 million.
The John Lewis department store side of the business performed even better, with like-for-like sales ahead by 10.3 per cent as part of a total uplift of 11 per cent, as total sales reached £2.7bn.
This means the 65,000 staff at John Lewis and Waitrose are to share a record bonus pot of £155 million.
Chairman Sir Stuart Hampson said: "The Partnership has had an excellent year and I'm very pleased to be reporting such strong financial results in my final announcement. It's the engagement of our Partners in all aspects of the business that is the foundation of our success.
“I have every confidence that we will have the capability at every level to continue to power the Partnership and realise our ambitions for the future."
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