Tesco review

Tesco is the UK's biggest retailer with more than 2,700 branches (it's also one of the largest retailers worldwide) but is it any good?

In the annual Which? supermarkets survey, 748 Tesco customers who told us they shopped in-store and another 322 who shopped with Tesco online, rated it on everything from product range to food quality and value for money. 

This enabled us to work out star ratings for different factors as well as an overall customer score. Read on to find out how customers rated the Tesco in-store and online shopping experience. 

Are Tesco supermarkets any good?

Tesco once again finished sixth out of 10 this year, jointly with Sainsbury's.

Customers were impressed with its range of products, quality, store appearance and staff, giving four stars for each.

However, the supermarket only achieved a poor two stars for value for money in-store – fewer than discounters Aldi and Lidl, which got four, and Iceland, which got three. However, Co-op received just one.

One customer said: 'Prices are slightly more expensive with not as many options for cheaper products, but a good range of products and a cleanly set-out store.'

Elsewhere, Tesco managed an average three stars for the availability of its stock and its queueing times.

One satisfied customer said: 'I’ve had a good experience as the staff are very helpful and the stock range is always good.'

• Find out more: see how the big players compare in our guide to the best and worst supermarkets 

Is Tesco's online delivery service any good?

It was rated four star for quality, the ease of using its website and app and the availability of collection and delivery slots but received three stars for all other measures, including value for money.

One online shopper said: ‘I have always had good experiences with it when ordering my food shopping to be delivered – fast service, good customer service and always on time.'

Another commented: 'I find shopping online with Tesco very easy, especially using the app on my phone. The delivery drivers are polite and helpful, and the groceries are good value. I do feel, however, the cost of delivery is expensive compared to other supermarkets.'

Tesco online does pretty well in our survey, but we haven't named it a Which? Recommended Provider as it didn't meet our benchmarks on value for money. We're also concerned it doesn't have unit pricing on the majority of its promotions, making it harder for customers to see whether they are good deals. 

• Find out more: supermarket price comparison: which is the UK's cheapest grocer?

How fresh is the food in Tesco deliveries?

We went undercover to find out how the different supermarkets compare for freshness, using a team of mystery shoppers to order more than 1,000 groceries in the first – and biggest – comparison of its kind in August 2021.

Tesco came top for freshness, with items lasting nearly 11 days on average. It impressed us by being the only supermarket not to make a single delivery containing damaged packaging or gone-off food. 

• Find out more: which online supermarket delivers the freshest groceries?

Tesco in the news

In January 2023, Tesco bought struggling stationery retailer, Paperchase. It won't take on its 106 stores but will sell its products in its own stores.

Also in January, Tesco announced that it would be linking up with Keep Sea Blue, which works to tackle plastic pollution by stopping it from entering the sea. The plan is to use plastic collected from beaches, coastlines and coastal communities around the Mediterranean Sea in Tesco fresh fish packaging. It says the move could see 500 tonnes of discarded plastic from entering oceans.

Tesco joined other supermarkets in November 2022 by temporarily rationing eggs due to supply issues. Customers were each only allowed to buy a maximum of three boxes of eggs. 

In July 2022, Tesco and Heinz reached an agreement after a pricing row saw Heinz products, such as baked beans and tomato ketchup, disappear from Tesco's shelves. This was the result of US giant Kraft Heinz trying to increase the prices it charged the supermarket for its products.

In May 2022, Tesco partnered with food delivery service Uber Eats to deliver food from 20 stores across the UK, including in Bradford, Edinburgh and Norwich, through Tesco's rapid delivery service Whoosh, which aims to deliver food and drink it less than an hour. 

In January 2022, Tesco said it would expand its Whoosh service to at least 600 stores by the end of 2023. It's currently available in around 200 Express stores.

Also in January 2022, Tesco launched its Clubcard Pay+ payment and savings account for its 20 million Clubcard holders. It comes with a debit card and lets you build up savings by rounding up what you spend to the nearest £1.

• Find out more: what supermarkets are doing to help with the cost of living

Which? Affordable Food For All campaign

Which? has launched an Affordable Food For All campaign after it found millions of families are skipping meals to survive the cost of living crisis. 

In an innovative new study, undertaken with researchers from the Consumer Data Research Centre at the University of Leeds, we've identified 50 of the most at-risk areas for finding affordable food in the UK.

We're calling on supermarkets to commit to clear pricing, better access to budget ranges that enable healthy choices and more offers for those who need them most.

• Do you want to see supermarkets take action? Sign the petition.