Based on data gathered by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), the American Society for Quality’s Quarterly Quality Report examines customers’ perceived quality of different products and services on a quarterly basis. The ACSI is a key economic indicator and the United States’ leading measure of customer satisfaction. This quarter, the report examined customer perceptions of food and beverage companies, and athletic footwear companies.

Among food and beverage companies, Sara Lee rises to the top ranks for the first time and Pepsi jumps ahead of Coca-Cola. In the athletic footwear category Reebok gains the quality lead over its arch-rival Nike. Sara Lee realized a 4.6 gain in the perceived quality of its baked goods, the largest gain in the report. For the first time, this vaults the purveyor of baked goods and deli meats into the top ranks of the food manufacturing category, right behind H.J. Heinz, Hershey and General Mills.

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