Supermarkets remain the primary place for Spaniards to buy meat. However, a recent consumer study shows that the quality of meat products varies considerably depending on the supermarket chain.
The differences are often more pronounced than many consumers would expect, particularly in terms of freshness, taste, and variety.
The Spanish Consumer Organization (OCU) surveyed over 5,000 people about their experiences with fresh meat at 18 of the country’s most popular supermarket chains.
Día and Aldi perform poorly
The results, based solely on customer feedback, reveal significant differences in shopper satisfaction depending on where they shop.
At the bottom of the rankings are Día and Aldi, two chains known for their affordability but falling short of expectations when it comes to meat quality. Both received the lowest overall ratings, with deviations of up to 22 points compared to the top-performing supermarkets.
Consumers criticized Día in particular for its lack of freshness and inadequate selection of meat products. Aldi, despite its reputation for budget-friendly prices, also failed to impress in the categories of taste and overall quality.
High-quality supermarket chains for meat
In contrast, there are supermarket chains that stand out positively in terms of meat quality. At the national level, Hipercor received one of the highest ratings for the quality of its meat products, scoring 79 out of 100 points.
Ahorramás ranked second with 65 points, offering a solid alternative for consumers looking for better meat options.
In Catalonia, the results are even more impressive: BonÀrea was named the “Gold” winner among all regions and chains with a score of 85, followed by Esclat with 84 points.
In summary, this study demonstrates the importance of supermarket choice, especially when it comes to the quality of the food that ends up on our plates.
