Netherlands retailers make their mark in the table of the top 250 global websites

LONDON - July 9, 2013 - PRLog -- Ensuring stakeholders can get the information they need and at the same time keeping the highest standards and exceeding compliance has to be the target for anyone taking the web seriously, so to score highly in the Sitemorse website Global 250 retail index really does demonstrate that a company is leading the field.

It has been an impressive second quarter for Dutch retailers as three major operators earn their place in the top 25 in the table of the Top 250 global websites, tested exclusively for the World Retail Congress 2013 by Sitemorse.

A jump of 15 places helps Maxeda move into 23^rd spot, while compatriot SHV Holdings (operator of Makro cash and carry) climbs an impressive 65 places into ninth spot, as both join long-standing top performer C&A that moves up three notches into fourth spot with a score of 7.24 out of 10.

The scores are created by Sitemorse using automated software that reads the first 125 pages of each retailer’s site and places them in a ranked table of relative performance based on six key criteria - function, code quality, user experience, accessibility, performance and SEO capability.

C&A is one of a batch of retailers that have combined to push out German grocer Aldi from top spot in Q1 to a current seventh place. Taking prime position for the first time is Sweden-based ICA which operates supermarkets chiefly under the ICA fascia, moving up one place with the same score of 7.73 that it achieved in Q1.  It just edges out second-placed Celesio, one of five German retailers in the top 25. Spar Group of the UK is third in the table, a rise of just one place since Q1.

It has also been a good quarter for food retailers as US-based Albertson’s moves into the 25^th place after its move up 12 places last time. However, its performance is overshadowed by the big movers of Q2 that includes three grocers – Dansk Supermarked climbed 102 places into 84^th spot; Save Mart Supermarkets moved up 92 places into 70^th spot; and Whole Foods Market advanced 75 places into 102^nd spot.

Although Sitemorse tested the top 250 global retailers, the final table contains only 228 names because companies were excluded from the process if they used assistive technology such as JavaScript, which breaks the general “rules of accessibility” of internet sites.  

Sitemorse CEO Lawrence Shaw will be part of the expert judging panel for the 2013 World Retail Awards (#worldretail), the retail industry's most prestigious accolade, for the fourth time.

Now in its seventh year, the World Retail Awards brings together a top-ranking group of board-level specialists to analyse entries. An extensive range of Sitemorse tests will once again be used as part of the review process for entrant company websites to ensure they meet high standards.

With over 10.5 million business visitors and 400 trade shows every year, Paris is the top region in the world for business events and gatherings, and the 2013 Congress will be held in the city for the first time.

The Awards culminates in the highlight of the retail calendar on October 9 2013 with a gala reception and awards ceremony. More information about the awards can be seen at http://www.worldretailcongress.com/

About the Index

The quarterly Index Website Review, powered by the Sitemorse software platform, is an important independent benchmark that clearly shows how websites are performing, meeting compliance levels and satisfying their users. It’s also a key indicator for website managers who, while always wanting to be at the top of their game, could be hampered by poor-performing suppliers, non-compliant legacy content or content management systems that often fail to spot errors affecting user experience.

Sitemorse servicessuch as Governisation and the Web Management Toolkit immediately find the issues that affect web users the most on any website, help demonstrate real improvement and ensure you have control and confidence in your web presence.

They will help you minimise unnecessary risk, issues covering everything from compliance with web standards to helping you deal with malware, protect your brand across even a large web presence, and enhance search engine optimisation to help more potential customers find you. They can help spotlight content that may need updating, issues with staff training and support, and focus supplier management.

More information

More information about our surveys and what they test can be found on our website http://www.sitemorse.com/survey/

For further Information: Geoff Paddock, Head of Communications on +44 207 183 5588 gpaddock@Sitemorse.com