Asda continues to find it hard to maintain last year's momentum, suggest the latest market share figures from Taylor Nelson Sofres. August was a tough month for the Wal-Mart subsidiary, according to Sharetrack data leaked to The Grocer, with market share slipping 0.3% month on month to 14.1%. For the 12 weeks to August 20, Asda's market share was 14.2%, which was up 1% on the same period last year, on the back of a 9.2% rise in sales year on year. But the chain's market share was flat when compared with the previous three month period and now appears to have peaked at Christmas. One analyst said: "Now that Asda is up against its tough comparison [of last year] it is running out of steam. Where will the next leg of growth come from? It looks like it is missing its budgets and is not on course to meet its target of doubling sales over five years." But an Asda spokesman said the multiple was enjoying solid growth even when compared with the "extraordinary growth" in the wake of its takeover by Wal-Mart last year. {{NEWS }}

Topics