Symbols grow but fall behind the pace as Aldi and Lidl storm ahead again
SYMBOL stores and independents continued to show growth in the latest Kantar Worldpanel grocery market survey results. But the sales increases registered by the small stores fell behind rates achieved by some of the multiples and very far behind the sales gains of the major discounters.
Stores on the Kantar sample that the analyst classes as symbols and independents maintained their 2.2% share of total sales in the 12-week period to 14 April. The small stores showed 1.8% growth on the same period the year before.
That was ahead of the growth achieved by Tesco, which was up only 1% and ahead also of Morrisons, which saw just 0.3% increase on the previous year.
But it was behind other multiples such as Sainsbury’s which grew by 5.4% and Asda – up 3%.
Kantar said the latest results showed the continuing polarisation of British shopping habits.
Aldi was up 31% on the year and now takes 3.4% of total sales, a new record. Lidl now takes 3% of total sales, also a new market share record.
But premium grocer Waitrose was also well up, growing 12% on the previous year.
