Asda tops the list of grocers that social media users most complain about for inappropriate substitutions for online grocery orders.

Data revealed in an analysis conducted by culinary company Pantry & Larder showed that the supermarket giant accounted for nearly half (47%) of more than 700 complaints on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In comparison, customers complaining about substitutions from other leading grocers was significantly less, with Sainsbury’s accounting for 28% of total complaints, Tesco 18% and Morrisons just 7%.

The majority (59%) of the 735 complaints by shoppers examined in the research were due to dissimilar substitutions, such as a customer who ordered from Tesco a four-pack of alcohol-free Birra Moretti, only to receive thick bleach.

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Other complaints ranged from the substitutions size of price (28%) and just over 1 in 10 (13%) were about dietary issues.

Complaints also varied depending on the retailer, with Pantry & Larder noting that Tesco often gives no substitute instead of a ‘bad’ one, while Morrisons does not make any price promises if the substitution is more expensive than the original order.

Pantry & Larder founder Veronica Fletcher said: “Grocery substitutes are annoying any day of the year, but over the holiday season, they can be devastating. Our data shows that it’s a big gamble relying on an online delivery for your Christmas shop, especially if you’re choosing to shop with Asda.”

“If there’s an item in your shop you can’t do without, I recommend trying your best to get to the shop to buy it yourself.”

An Asda spokesperson called the data ”flawed”, adding: “Claims are based on a limited social media search and do not represent the experiences of millions of our customers or the service we provide.”

“Counting the number of complaint tweets is doesn’t take into account the customers who were satisfied with the subs they received. Asda is the second largest online retailer with almost 20% share of the market, so we will have a larger number of complaints about any given issue.”

“Our own data shows the vast majority of substitute items are accepted, and overall customer satisfaction is high.”

The report, follows a survey by consumer group Which? that found Asda shoppers to be the most likely to complain about their online orders, while discount retailer Aldi was named the ‘worst’ supermarket for order substitutions.