WAITROSE has been voted the best supermarket in the UK, narrowly reclaiming the title from last year's winner Aldi.

The upmarket grocer, which is already planning to expand its number of stores in Scotland, gained a customer score of 73 per cent in the survey of 7,000 shoppers by Which?, with top marks for customer service, store environment and its own-label and fresh products.

The Co-operative has once again been named worst supermarket, winning a customer score of just 49 per cent and widening the gap on last year between it and its rivals.

It was the only supermarket to be rated as poor for pricing, and was "shockingly far behind everyone else" on value for money, with just 35 per cent of customers thinking it is good or excellent in this regard, the watchdog said.

It is also considered the worst supermarket for special offers, the poll revealed, and gained the worst rating for own-label products, with only frozen food specialist Iceland rated as poorly for fresh produce.

Aldi won an overall customer score of 72 per cent, followed by Iceland, Lidl and Marks & Spencer with 69 per cent.

Morrisons and Sainsbury's managed a score of 63 per cent, followed by Asda on 62 per cent and Tesco on 60 per cent.

Ocado came top of the online supermarket table for the fifth year running despite competition from more competitors in the form of Iceland and Morrisons.

Consumers told the consumer group that value and good quality food products are the most important factors in choosing where to shop.

Aldi and Lidl have seen significant increases in sales in the past year and Iceland posted a large increase in profit last year.

Meanwhile, the big four supermarkets have stuttered, losing market share to their cheaper rivals as well as Waitrose.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Thousands of people told us that value and good quality food products are the most important factors in choosing where to shop."

Waitrose managing director Mark Price said: "It's a great accolade and fantastic recognition for the energy and hard work our 61,000 partners put into creating the best possible experience for shoppers both in our shops and online."