Tesco and Sainsbury’s boost UK market share
THREE of the UK’s big four supermarket chains are reporting Christmas figures this week, with analysts expecting Tesco and J Sainsbury to have boosted their market share.
Research company Kantar suggests that Sainsbury’s advanced its share of the British grocery market by 0.3 per cent to 16.4 per cent while Tesco saw a lift of 0.1 per cent to 30.7 per cent.
That would mean Wm Morrison has lost market share – down 0.1 per cent to 12 per cent – for the first time since 2007.
Meanwhile, overall sales at Britain’s supermarkets rose 6.9 per cent year-on-year in December as a late surge in spending made up for a snow-disrupted start to the month.
Sainsbury’s has grown its sales the most among the top four players, research company Nielsen says.
It added sales for the week ending 25 December rose 16 per cent to a record £3.36bn, helped by higher prices.
Marks & Spencer and Debenhams are among a slew of major retailers reporting this week, with all eyes on the impact of the freezing weather and snow over the traditionally strong trading period.
Asda has not reported any Christmas figures but said it is “pleased with the continuing momentum”.