Sky News: Aldi has overtaken the Co-op to become Britain’s fifth largest supermarket – underlining the rapid growth of discount grocery stores.
Industry data from Kantar Worldpanel showed sales at the German-owned retailer rose 12.4% to £1.72bn in the 12 weeks to 29 January.
That took its share of the UK grocery market to 6.2% – above the Co-op’s 6%, or £1.66bn, and only beaten by the more established big four – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.
Meanwhile, the Kantar figures also showed supermarket prices rose by 0.7%, accelerating the return to inflation seen in December following more than two years of prices falling.
The data also revealed that supply issues caused by bad weather in southern Europe meant 759,000 fewer shoppers bought courgettes in January – a fall of 31% – and saw spinach sales slip by 12%.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “Just a decade ago Aldi was the UK’s tenth largest food retailer, accounting for less than 2% of the grocery market.
“Since then the grocer has grown rapidly, climbing the rankings by an impressive five places.
“Underpinned by an extensive programme of store openings, the past quarter has seen Aldi attract 826,000 more shoppers than during the same period last year.”
Rival German-owned discounter Lidl also saw sales grow during the period but still has just a 4.5% market share, behind Waitrose at 5.3%.
The latest improvement in Aldi’s fortunes appears to confound widely-reported recent criticism that customers were being put off by long queues, untidy stores and crowded car parks.
Aldi last month said it had enjoyed a record December as sales climbed 15% – stealing a march on upmarket rivals such as Waitrose and M&S with premium ranges including wine and mince pies.
The supermarket’s rapid expansion has seen its number of stores grow to around 700.
According to market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel the UK’s biggest grocers are:
- Tesco 28.1%
- Sainsbury’s 16.5%
- Asda 15.6%
- Morrisons 10.9%
- Aldi 6.2%
- Co-op 6%
- Waitrose 5.3%
- Lidl 4.5%
- Iceland 2.3%
Other multiples 2.9%
Independents (includes franchises like Premier, Budgens and Londis) 1.8%
