J Sainsbury Sales, Market Share Fall

By Ian Walker

J Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN) was the only one of the top four U.K. grocers to record a fall in sales over the latest 12 weeks ended June 17 as the U.K.'s second largest grocer sold an extra 60 million pounds ($79.6 million) of goods on promotion this year.

According to data from research firm Kantar Worldpanel sales at Sainsbury's, which is in the process of merging with Asda, fell 0.2% to GBP4.24 billion and its market share fell to 15.6% from 16%.

Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN), the U.K.'s number one grocer by market share, grew sales 1.4% in the 12 weeks to GBP7.51 billion. However, its market share fell to 27.7% in the period, from 27.9%.

At the other end of the scale, German retailers Aldi and Lidl grew both market share and sales. Aldi's market share rose to 7.4% in the period, from 6.9%, while sales rose 8.2% to GBP2.0 billion. Lidl's market share rose to 5.4%, from 5.0% and sales grew 10% to GBP1.47 billion, Kantar said.

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

At Asda, a subsidiary of Walmart Inc. (WMT), market share fell to 15.1%, from 15.2%, while sales rose 1.8% to GBP4.1 billion. Wm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC's (MRW.LN) market share fell to 10.6%, from 10.7%, although sales rose 1.9% to GBP2.88 billion.

The market share of up-market retailer Waitrose, a division of John Lewis Partnership PLC, fell to 5.1% in the period, from 5.1%. Sales climbed 0.1% to GBP1.38 billion, Kantar said.

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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 26, 2018 03:51 ET (07:51 GMT)

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