Asda retained its status as the third-largest supermarket in the UK by volume in the September quarter, but the gulf between its and FTSE 100 rivals Tesco PLC (LSE:TSCO) and J Sainsbury PLC (LSE:SBRY) continued to widen.
Asda, whose chairman Stuart Rose recently said he was “embarrassed” by Asda’s performance under the ownership of Mohsin and Zuber Issa, maintained a 12.6% market share in the 12 weeks to 1 September, according to the latest Kantar data.
This is down from 13.8% in the same period in 2023- a 5.6% decline.
Tesco, meanwhile, increased its leading position by 5.3% to 27.8%, with closest competitor Sainsbury’s adding 5.7% to 15.2% of market share.
However, it was Lidl that saw the most impressive growth among the brick-and-mortar supermarket chains by increasing its market share by 9.1% to 8%.
Online-only Ocado, beat out all traditional grocery chains with a 12.9% increase in its market share to 1.8%.
Inflation eases
Kantar noted that grocery price inflation eased by to 1.7%, but cost-on-living pressure remained prominent among shoppers.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, stated: “Despite grocery price inflation easing back to 1.7% over the last four weeks, shoppers' financial confidence hasn’t risen with it.
“Memories of the last two years remain strong, with nearly 60% of shoppers still very or extremely concerned about rising grocery prices.
“This is their second biggest financial worry, only behind home energy bills.”
Kantar’s published grocery market shares are based on the total till roll of retailers that are primarily grocers (but may also sell merchandise (including clothes).
M&S, which is a balanced mix of FMCG and general merchandise, is excluded from the data.