UK supermarket sales slow

UK supermarket sales growth dropped to 0.5% in 2019, according to the latest data published by Kantar Worldpanel. With uncertainty surrounding Brexit compounded by the general election, consumers made on average one fewer visit to the shops in the last quarter of the year than in the same period last year.

Lidl recorded sales growth of 9.3% and secured a market share of 6.1%. Aldi’s increase in sales of 6.2% took its market share to 8.0%. Co-op posted 3.6% growth, with customers spending an additional £10 million on fresh fruit, vegetables and salads compared to the same time last year. The four largest chains saw their combined market share fall to 67.7% from 69.1%. Tesco registered the best results of the big-four, but still saw sales fall by 0.8%. Sainsbury’s sales dropped 1.1% and Asda’s by 1.9%, resulting in market shares of 15.7% and 14.6% respectively. Morrisons’ sales slipped 2.9%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point fall in market share to 10.1%. The fastest-growing supermarket chain is online retailer Ocado, whose sales were up 13.7%. Ocado is performing particularly well in London, where its market share is now 2.6%, while its share nationally is 1.4%.