Aldi maintained its position as the UK’s fastest growing grocer amid a summer of huge growth in the sector thanks to the hot weather.
According to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel’s UK Grocery Market Share analysis, the grocery sector grew 3.5 per cent in the 12 weeks to August 12 2018.
This was aided by the exceptionally hot summer, which saw UK shoppers spend an extra £67 million on alcoholic drinks throughout July, alongside a jump in both soft drink and non-alcoholic beer sales growing 28 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.
All of the Big 4 grocers enjoyed growth over the period, with Morrisons regaining its position as the fastest growing with a sales increase of 2.7 per cent.
Asda followed closely with growth of 2.6 per cent despite its market share dipping slightly by 0.1 per cent, while Sainsbury’s experienced its fastest rate of growth since January increasing 1.2 per cent.
Though Tesco enjoyed a boost from its Express stores as shoppers favoured local stores in the heat, growing 1.8 per cent, Co-op’s local store network saw it grow at the fastest rate in nearly seven years at 7.8 per cent.
The German discounters remained the fastest growing grocers, with Lidl’s sales increasing 8.6 per cent bringing its market share to 5.5 per cent.
Aldi however, remained the fastest growing grocer in the UK, seeing sales growth of 12.6 per cent bringing its market share to 7.6 per cent.
“We’re delighted to have maintained our position as the UK’s fastest-growing supermarket,” Aldi UK’s chief executive Giles Hurley said.
“It’s turning out to be one of the best summers on record and our sales grew once again in July as customers looked to make the most of the heatwave.”
Nielsen’s UK head of retailer insight Mike Watkins added: “As one of the hottest summers on record, these past 12 weeks have given a real boost to sales at supermarkets.
“This is welcome news for the industry after a lacklustre start to the year following the Beast from the East and a squeeze on spending as inflation continued to bite.”
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