Tesco Sales Growing Fastest Among Top Four, But Still Losing Market Share

By Ian Walker 
 

Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN), the U.K.'s number one grocer by market share, is the fastest growing among the big four, despite continuing to lose market share to German retailers Aldi and Lidl, a survey from Kantar Worldpanel showed Tuesday.

For the 12 weeks ended Jan. 28, Tesco grew sales 2.6% to 8 billion pounds ($11.2 billion). Its market share fell to 27.8%, from 28.1% for the 12 weeks ended Jan. 29, 2017.

Aldi and Lidl's combined market share grew to 11.9% in the 12-week period, up from 10.7% for the comparable period. Aldi's sales rose 16.2% to GBP2 billion, while Lidl's grew 16.3% to GBP1.4 billion, Kantar said.

Kantar monitors the household grocery purchasing habits of 30,000 demographically representative households in the U.K.

J Sainsbury PLC's (SBRY.LN) market share fell to 16.2% in the latest survey from 16.5%, with sales increasing 1.5% to GBP4.7 billion, Kantar reported.

Asda, a subsidiary of Walmart Stores Inc. (WMT), had its market share fall to 15.4%, from 15.6%, with sales 2.2% higher at GBP4.4 billion. Wm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC's (MRW.LN) market share fell to 10.7%, from 10.9%, with sales increasing by 2.2% to GBP3.1 billion.

The market share of up-market retailer Waitrose, a division of John Lewis Partnership PLC, fell to 5.2% in the 12 weeks ended Jan. 28, from 5.3%. Sales climbed 1.5% to GBP1.5 billion, Kantar said.

Separately, a survey by Nielsen Homescan also shows Aldi and Lidl growing market share. For the 12 weeks ended Jan. 27, Aldi's market share has risen to 7.8% from 7.2% for the comparable period ended Jan. 28, 2017 while Lidl's has risen to 5.2% from 4.6%.

According to Nielsen, Tesco's market share has dropped to 27.3% in the 12 weeks ended Jan. 27, from 27.4% for the comparable period ended Jan. 28, 2017, Sainsbury's fell to 15.4%, from 15.8%, Asda fell to 14.2%, from 14.4% and Morrisons fell to 10.1% from 10.3%.

Write to Ian Walker at [e-mail]; @IanWalk40289749

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 06, 2018 03:52 ET (08:52 GMT)

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