In the lead-up to Christmas, supermarket sales reveal swift changes in market share among major UK retailers.
- Asda’s sales have dropped by 4.2%, marking it as the only major UK supermarket to report a decline before the festive season.
- Meanwhile, Ocado claims the title of the fastest-growing retailer, with a 16.2% surge in sales.
- Marks & Spencer enters the holiday period with a significant 10.6% sales increase, improving its market standing.
- The overall supermarket sales are anticipated to hit a new peak of £13 billion in December, driven by higher demand for premium products.
In the highly competitive market preceding Christmas, Asda has experienced a noteworthy reduction in sales. In the 12 weeks leading up to 30 November, its market share dropped by 1.1 percentage points to 12.1%, as per data from NIQ. This decline is significant in a period typically characterised by retail growth.
Conversely, Ocado has demonstrated remarkable growth, maintaining its position as the UK’s fastest-growing retailer by achieving a 16.2% increase in sales. This growth has seen Ocado’s market share rise slightly by 0.2 percentage points to 1.8%, underscoring its expanding customer base and successful market strategies.
Marks & Spencer has seen a positive trajectory, with sales bolstered by 10.6% this quarter. This growth has raised its market share to 3.7%, reflecting strong consumer confidence and acceptance of its product offerings as they enter the final quarter.
Waitrose has also seen positive albeit modest growth with a sales increase of 1.9% over the same period. However, this has not resulted in a significant shift in its market share, highlighting the challenges within the premium grocery sector.
Interestingly, overall supermarket sales in December are on track to surpass £13 billion, with the growing trend of premium own-label products contributing greatly to this increase. The spend on these items is climbing and expected to reach nearly 7% by the end of December.
The landscape of UK supermarkets is shifting, with varied performance outcomes forecasting a pivotal festive season.
