LONDON--Discount retailers Aldi and Lidl continue their stellar
growth, in the latest data released on Tuesday, as Tesco PLC and Wm
Morrisons Supermarkets PLC registered a drop in both market share
and sales.
Asda Group Ltd. and J Sainsbury PLC both increased share for the
12 weeks ended June 22, beating the market average with growth
rates of 3.6% and 3.0% respectively, according to Kantar.
The research company monitors the household grocery purchasing
habits of 25,000 demographically representative households in the
U.K.
Upmarket chain Waitrose continued to do well, with a record 5%
market share in the 12 weeks ended June 22, compared with 4.8% in
the same period a year earlier, according to Kantar.
Aldi's market share for the 12-week period rose to 4.7%,
compared with 3.6% for the 12 weeks ended June 23, 2013. Lidl's
market share rose to 3.6%, up from 3.1% in the comparable period
last year.
Tesco one of the big four supermarkets, saw its market share
fall to 28.9% in the period, from 30.3% in the 12 weeks ended June
23, 2013, while Sainsbury's market share rose to 16.7% from 16.6%.
Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., saw its market share
rise to 17.1%, from 16.9%.
Morrisons market share fell to 10.9%, from 11.76% a year
earlier.
Fraser McKevitt, consumer insight consultant at Kantar
Worldpanel, said: Aldi and Lidl have recently announced impressive
expansion plans. Aldi will aim to double its store numbers to 1,000
by 2021, while Lidl is seeking to boost its presence with an
eventual total of 1,500 outlets.
"There are mixed fortunes for the big four with Tesco and
Morrisons registering falls in both share and sales. By contrast,
both Asda and Sainsbury's have increased share, beating the market
average with growth rates of 3.6% and 3.0% respectively," McKevitt
said.
-Write to Razak Musah Baba at razak.baba@wsj.com; Twitter:
@Raztweet
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