Discount duo seize biggest-ever slice of the market

Aldi and Lidl have grabbed their highest-ever share of the UK grocery market in the past three months, according to new data from Kantar Worldpanel.

The German-owned discount duo respectively picked up 3.3% of the market and 2.6% in the period to 17 April, each having grown total sales by around 15%.

The growth came from existing shoppers spending more rather than by luring business from the big four multiples, Kantar’s Edward Garner said.

“This trend is not a re-run of 2008,” he said. “But while their basket sizes remain relatively small, there is no doubt Aldi and Lidl are taking a larger portion of shoppers’ spending.”

Waitrose also performed strongly, growing sales by almost 8% over a year ago. The upmarket retailer grew its share of the market from 4.1% to 4.3% for the three-month period.

Only Morrisons of the big four increased its share to 11.9%, while Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s all suffered slight dips.

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