Discount grocer success continues

Tuesday, 14 October 2008

Discount retailers continue to thrive in the current climate and shoppers are looking to seek out value, this month's TNS Worldpanel market share figures have discovered.

Aldi saw growth of 22.1% in the 12 weeks up until 5 October compared to the same period in 2007, and now has a record share of 3%. In turn, Lidl witnessed growth of 9.8% and occupies a 2.3% share.

Tesco's market share has decreased to 31.4% but it still has a market growth of 5.5%, TNS said, while Asda (9%), Sainsbury's (5%) and Morrisons (9.6%) have all seen respectable growth.

But till roll growth at Waitrose stood at 1.6%, something TNS director of research Ed Garner contended means it is "under pressure".

Iceland also saw an 11.8% boost to market share. Farmfoods jumped by 23.2%.

The figures were announced after TNS also unveiled its private label statistics for the month, with value own label performing sensationally.

Below is the market share of grocery retailers with the turnover percentage share change from the corresponding period of 2007 on the right hand side:

Total Multiples 93.3% +7.1%
Tesco 31.4% +5.5%
Asda 17.1% +9.0%
Sainsbury's 15.7% +5.6%
Morrisons 11.2% +9.6%
Somerfield 3.9% +0.1%
Waitrose 3.8% +1.6%
Iceland 1.7% +11.8%
Netto 0.7% +3.6%
Lidl 2.3% +9.8%
Aldi 3.0% +22.1%
Total co-ops 4.2% +2.4%
Total independents 2.5% -1.5%
Total symbols 0.9% -3.6%
Other independents 1.6% -0.3%

Source: TNS Worldpanel

Additionally, independents saw their market share dip by 1.5%, while symbols fared worse, witnessing a 3.6% drop in share.

Grocery price inflation increased marginally to 9.3%, the research company said, in the same 12 weeks, as TNS believes inflation has now "reached a peak".

Last month, TNS remarked that consumers are becoming ever more receptive to low price messages.