More than four in ten British workers put on a uniform to go to work. But which businesses get theirs right, and which get a dressing down from the public?
To find out, Clothes2order surveyed 2,000 UK adults for the first edition of the UK Uniform Report, our annual study of how Britain rates the staff uniforms it sees every day: in supermarkets, in coffee shops, in fast food chains and on the doorstep.
This first instalment reveals the nation’s verdict on supermarket uniforms, along with what the British public says separates a great uniform from a terrible one. Rankings for coffee and food chains, and for delivery and logistics firms, will follow in parts two and three.
Britain’s best supermarket uniform: Tesco takes the top spot
Asked which supermarkets have the best staff uniforms, the public put Tesco clearly in front. Almost two in five (37.9%) picked the retailer’s familiar blue and navy look, with its famous embroidered fleece drawing particular affection.
Respondents could select up to three. 4.7% answered “don’t know/none”.
Notably, it isn’t the premium grocers that win. M&S Food and Waitrose perform strongly in second and third, but the top of the table belongs to a workhorse uniform, not a fashion statement. One respondent summed up the winning formula:
“Tesco has great uniforms because the blue and red fleece looks professional yet comfortable for the Highland weather.”
Professional. Comfortable. Practical in a Scottish winter. As we’ll see below, that’s almost exactly the checklist the British public applies to every uniform.
Britain’s worst supermarket uniform: Asda divides the nation
At the other end of the table, Asda’s bright green uniform was named among the worst by 37.5% of respondents. That’s the highest share of any supermarket, and almost identical to Tesco’s winning score at the opposite end.
Respondents could select up to three. 8.2% answered “don’t know/none”.
To be fair to Asda, the story is more interesting than a simple thumbs-down. The same green uniform that bottoms the national table ranks third best in Scotland, where 23.5% of respondents put it among their favourites. It may be the most divisive uniform in Britain: instantly recognisable, strongly branded, and proof that a bold colour worn head to toe splits opinion in a way a subtler palette doesn’t.
There’s a similar pattern around Waitrose, which appears in the top three for best while also attracting a notable worst-uniform vote (17.9%). When a uniform makes a strong statement it seems people take sides.
What actually makes a good uniform? The public’s answer is refreshingly simple
When we asked respondents what matters most in a staff uniform, style barely registered. The winning qualities tended to be the unglamorous ones:
More than half the country chooses professionalism or comfort first. Designer credentials come dead last.
The turn-offs tell the same story, although perhaps designer or co-branded uniforms might help counter-act the biggest challenges:
Looking cheap is the cardinal sin, followed closely by colour choices that don’t flatter the people wearing them. Together, the colour and quality complaints go a long way to explaining both ends of our supermarket table.
Do designer uniforms impress anyone?
With Wimbledon on our screens this fortnight, it’s worth noting that the tournament’s staff wear uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren, and Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew famously wore Vivienne Westwood. Does that kind of designer collaboration actually change how the public sees an employer?
Somewhat. 27.8% say a recognisable fashion brand on a staff uniform makes the employer look more premium and professional, and 18.5% say they’d personally feel more confident wearing one. But 20.1% say it’s a nice touch that changes nothing, and 13.4% call it unnecessary and over the top.
Interestingly, the people most receptive to branded uniforms are the ones who wear uniforms themselves. That suggests the biggest payoff from investing in better workwear may be how your own team feels in it, not just how customers see it.
What this means if your team wears a uniform
The message from 2,000 British consumers is remarkably consistent, and it should be reassuring for any employer:
You don’t need a designer. You need to get the basics right. A uniform that looks professional, feels comfortable across a long shift, holds its quality through repeated washing, and uses colour thoughtfully will beat a stylish-but-impractical one every time. Bold brand colours make staff instantly recognisable, but the data suggests they land better as an accent against a neutral base than head to toe.
A staff uniform is a working garment worn for eight hours a day in front of your customers. Simple beats stylish, and now the data backs it up.
If you’re reviewing your own team uniform, our uniform experts can help you choose branded workwear that looks professional, feels comfortable and works in the real world. Speak to Clothes2order about getting your workwear right.
Coming next in the UK Uniform Report
The nation has also delivered its verdict on the uniforms worn in Britain’s coffee shops and fast food chains, and by the delivery drivers at our doors. That includes one result that will surprise anyone who thinks the most trusted name automatically wears the best-loved uniform. Parts two and three land in the coming weeks. Follow us on LinkedIn to catch the next instalment.
About the UK Uniform Report
The UK Uniform Report is an annual study by Clothes2order, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of personalised workwear and staff uniforms. The 2026 edition surveyed 2,000 UK adults (aged 18 to 64, sampled across all UK regions) in April 2026 via the independent Pollfish research panel. Respondents rated staff uniforms across the supermarket, coffee and food chain, and delivery and logistics sectors, and answered attitudinal questions about what makes uniforms work. Percentages for “best” and “worst” rankings reflect the share of respondents selecting each brand, with up to three selections permitted per question.
Full survey data tables
Britain’s best supermarket uniform. Respondents were asked to select up to 3 as their favourites:
| Rank | Supermarket | % who rate it among the best |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesco | 37.9% |
| 2 | M&S Food | 34.2% |
| 3 | Waitrose | 26.2% |
| 4 | Asda | 21.3% |
| 5 | Morrisons | 18.9% |
| 6 | Sainsbury’s | 16.8% |
| 7 | Aldi | 15.4% |
| 8 | Lidl | 14.5% |
| 9 | Co-op | 9.4% |
Britain’s worst supermarket uniform. Respondents were asked to select up to 3 of their least favourite uniforms:
| Rank | Supermarket | % who rate it among the worst |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asda | 37.5% |
| 2 | Lidl | 24.9% |
| 3 | Co-op | 23.2% |
| 4 | Sainsbury’s | 22.7% |
| 5 | Waitrose | 17.9% |
| 6 | Morrisons | 17.7% |
| 7 | M&S Food | 17.4% |
| 8 | Aldi | 15.6% |
| 9 | Tesco | 12.2% |
What makes a good uniform? Respondents were asked to vote for the one thing that matters most to them in a good staff uniform:
| What matters most in a good staff uniform | % |
|---|---|
| Looks professional | 25.5% |
| Comfortable to wear | 25.1% |
| Good quality and durable | 15.1% |
| Attractive colours | 11.0% |
| Practical design (pockets, easy movement) | 10.4% |
| Flattering fit | 6.1% |
| Allows individual style and personalisation | 4.6% |
| Made or co-branded by a recognised brand | 2.3% |
What puts people off a uniform most? Respondents were asked to select the one thing that most puts them off a staff uniform:
| What puts people off a uniform most | % |
|---|---|
| Looks cheap or dated | 21.4% |
| Unflattering colours | 20.6% |
| Poor fit | 18.5% |
| Uncomfortable fabric | 15.7% |
| Impractical design | 8.4% |
| Falls apart quickly | 5.9% |
| Everyone looks identical, no individuality | 5.3% |
| Unbranded or generic looking | 4.4% |
