PRESS RELEASE
Inaugural UK PoweRanking study sees Asda ranked as the
‘best of the best’ retailer and faith being restored in Tesco
London, 3rd September 2015 – Despite its recent dip in trading, 51% of UK
manufacturers ranked Asda as the overall top retailer, based on key criteria such as
clearest strategy and best buying team, in the 2015 UK PoweRanking study launched
today by the retail and shopper specialists, Kantar Retail.
The PoweRanking study reveals those companies identified as best-in-class by their
trading partners and what the UK retail industry needs to focus on to improve
performance and collaboration.
The report found that manufacturers have faith in Tesco’s return with a landslide 74% of
manufacturers naming Tesco as the top predicted “power retailer”. Despite Tesco’s
recent financial struggles and turbulence in senior management, suppliers think Tesco
will be able to recover due to its sheer scale, residual brand equity and legacy of
innovation. By contrast, only 15% of manufacturers named Amazon as a predicted
“power retailer” in five years’ time.
Other highlights of the UK PoweRanking study include:

Asda and Aldi were named as the retailers with the clearest company strategy.
Asda was commended for using the same clear and consistent strategy and
messaging over many years, whilst retaining its focus on value and its target on
specific shopper groups, whilst Aldi is commended for its consistent and simple
proposition.

The top retailer to do business with according to manufacturers is Sainsbury’s.
This prestigious accolade was awarded due to its collaborative nature, ability to
build positive working relationships and professional attitude. Manufacturers also
rank the retailer highly due to its clear strategies and ability to implement them.

Waitrose is ranked as the top retailer for the best store branding as result of its
clear and simple communication, value proposition and brand positioning.
Tara Benjamin, Principle Consultant at Kantar Retail commented; “We are delighted to
bring this trusted study, now in its 19th year in the US, and its 4th year in China, to the
UK and we hope to make this a trusted and respected benchmark for the industry”.
To read Kantar Retail’s 2015 UK PoweRanking Executive Summary CLICK HERE. To
receive a copy of the full report, please contact: tara.benjamin@kantarretail.com
- Ends Notes to editors
About Kantar Retail
We are the retail and shopper specialists. We are a leading retail and shopper insight,
consulting and analytics and technology business, part of Kantar Group, the data investment
management division of WPP. We work with leading brand manufacturers and retailers to help
them sell more effectively and profitably. At Kantar Retail we track and forecast over 1000
retailers globally and have purchase data on over 200 million shoppers. Amongst our market
leading reports are the annual PoweRanking survey and the Digital Power Study. Kantar Retail
works with over 400 clients and has 26 offices in 15 markets around the globe.
For further information, please visit www.kantarretail.com, or find us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Kantar Retail PoweRanking Reports
Kantar Retail sponsored the first annual PoweRanking study in the US in 1997. The survey
originated from its industry benchmarking studies on category management and trade
promotion management, which have provided insight into industry best practices in these areas
for the past two decades. The objective of the Powerwalking study is to research and
benchmark how companies view each other in the most important areas of the manufacturerretailer relationship.
What this report delivers:






Benchmarks provided at a strategic level (regardless of category or channel)
Who are the best companies, as evaluated by their trading partners
Insight into what makes them 'the best'
The importance of key metrics between manufacturers and retailers
Focused on building strategic engagement
Areas for improvement and collaboration
Contact for Kantar Retail media queries:
Victoria Powsey
Office: +44 (0) 1372 825 391
E-mail: victoria.powsey@kantarretail.com
2