Christmas trading in the grocery sector was robust but it was the discount firms that saw greatest success again, TNS said this afternoon.
The market was lifted by 6.4% overall during the 12 week to 25 January 2009, the company said, even though the sector remained defensive and shoppers cut back on the high street.
Aldi boosted sales by 24.1% compared with the same period a year ago and its share rose to 3%.
Frozen food retailer Iceland increased sales by 14% over the same 12-week period and also saw a higher share of 2%, TNS said.
It saw similar success on Nielsen’s monthly figures, also out today.
Morrisons was the best performing multiple, with 9.7% higher sales than last year, followed by Asda with 8.1% sales growth.
Tesco had the lowest sales growth of the big four – 4.7% – something TNS put down to the retailer’s emphasis on its discount range.
Director of research at TNS Worldpanel Ed Garner said: “Pure food price inflation remains above 8% … there are clear signs of trading down to lower price points, either within retailer (with retailers’ premium ranges under pressure and equivalent value ranges booming) or between retailers as this period’s figures continue to show.”
Last month TNS said the grocery retail sector is becoming more defensive in difficult economic times.
Below is the market share of grocery retailers. The turnover percentage change is on the right:
Total multiples 93.4% +6.7%
Tesco 30.7 +4.7%
Asda 17.2% +8.1%
Sainsbury’s 16.2% +5.5%
Morrisons 11.9% +9.1%
Somerfield 3.3% -1.0%
Waitrose 3.7% 0.7%
Iceland 2.0% +14.0%
Netto 0.7% +6.5%
Lidl 2.3% +11.0%
Aldi 3.0% 24.1%
Total co-ops 4.3% +2.6%
Total independents 2.3% +1.1%
Total symbols 0.9% +2.3%
Other independents 1.5% +0.4%
Source: TNS Worldpanel
Sales at symbol groups rose 2.3% during the Christmas period, while they were up 0.4% at independent retailers, TNS said.
Verdict Research last week claimed that the grocery sector is likely to stay more resilient to the overall recession than the complete retail market.
