By Ian Walker
LONDON--J. Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN) has seen sales growth for the
first time since last August in the 12 weeks to March 29, helping
to slow down the fall in its market share, according to a survey
Wednesday.
Sales at Sainsbury, the third-largest U.K. supermarket retailer
by market share, rose 0.2% on the year to 4.14 billion pounds
($6.16 billion) in the period, although its market share fell to
16.4% from 16.5%, according to Kantar, which monitors the household
grocery purchasing habits of 25,000 demographically representative
households in the U.K.
The country's largest supermarket Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN) again grew
sales in the period, following its strongest performance in 18
months in the previous 12-week period. Sales for the 12 weeks to
March 29 rose 0.3% to GBP7.19 billion, although its market share
slipped to 28.4% from 28.6%.
German retailers Aldi and Lidl, as well as upmarket retailer
Waitrose, continued to grow market share in the 12-week period.
Aldi and Lidl's joint share rose to 9% from 8%. Separately Aldi's
market share rose to 5.3% from 4.6%, while Lidl's share rose to
3.7% from 3.4%.
Waitrose market share rose to 5.1%, from 5.0%.
Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), saw its market
share slip to 17.1% from 17.4%, according to Kantar, while Wm
Morrisons Supermarkets PLC's (MRW.LN) market share fell to 10.9%
from 11.1%.
"The changing structure of Britain's supermarket landscape is
illustrated by two facts. Firstly, the so-called discounters Aldi
and Lidl now command a combined 9.0% share of the market. In 2012
the same two retailers only accounted for 5.4% of grocery sales.
Secondly, the 72.8% share taken by the biggest four retailers is
now at the lowest level in a decade," said Fraser McKevitt, head of
retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel.
Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires