Tesco remains at the top of the retailer chart for the second week running while Sainsbury moves up one place to take the number two slot.

Sainsbury is particularly strong on alcoholic drinks with a large number of price promotions featured on gondola ends. Asda slips down by one to third place but still remains strong on snacks and soft drinks.

The category chart continues to be led by health and beauty and the greatest threat this week is from frozen, which moves up two places to number two and stands less than one percentage point behind the leader.

Confectionery is the only new entry and comes in at number three. The presence of confectionery in store has increased dramatically with the introduction of lines aimed at the Christmas market.

Alcoholic drinks moves up as the number of promotions on spirits increases to offer further support to those already in place for lagers and wines.

Mars leapfrogs to the top of the brand chart entering the chart at number one. This is in no small part due to the Christmas activity becoming increasingly dominant and it is clearly a contributing factor to the success of both Cadbury at number two and Nestlé at number four this week.

The bottom half of the chart is taken over by new entries including Heinz, Kellogg’s, PG, Pringles and Coca-Cola.

In the own label category chart frozen continues at number one and consolidates its hold on the position drawing even further ahead of the field.

Cakes and biscuits moves up two to second place while soft drinks and household both fall by one place.