Waitrose benefits as shoppers return to high-end supermarkets
UK FOOD shoppers are regaining confidence and returning to upmarket grocery chain Waitrose, according to the latest figures.
TNS Worldpanel said yesterday that sales at Waitrose were up 11.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to 6 September, outperforming the supermarket sector, which grew by 5.5 per cent.
Waitrose also grew its market share to 3.9 per cent, compared to 3.7 per cent a year earlier.
But Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket chain by sales, underperformed the rest of its rivals, growing sales by 4.6 per cent. Its market share shrunk by 0.2 per cent to 30.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, budget grocer Lidl’s market share was flat at 2.3 per cent, ending a period where it grew share thanks to the slump.