// Grocery sales for the four weeks to July 12 grew by 14.6% year-on-year
// However this was a slowdown compared to the 18.9% growth in June
// Growth slowed as the reopening of pubs & restaurants affected momentum for supermarkets
UK grocery sales growth has started to slow down from record highs on the back of easing lockdown restrictions, according to new figures.
Supermarket sales for the four weeks to July 12 grew by 14.6 per cent against the same period last year, as it slowed down from 18.9 per cent growth in June, the latest data from Kantar revealed.
Kantar’s monthly grocery market share figures revealed that sales growth slowed as the reopening of pubs and restaurants on June 15 affected momentum for grocery chains.
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“As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased and non-essential retail outlets reopen, some consumers are slowly resuming their pre-Covid routines and shopping habits,” Kantar head of retail insight Fraser McKevitt said.
“However, we are clearly a long way off a complete return to normality.”
Morrisons was the strongest performer of the UK’s Big 4 grocers, as it reported a 17.4 per cent jump in sales over the period.
Meanwhile, Tesco reported 15.1 per cent growth, Sainsbury’s saw sales rise by 13.5 per cent, and Asda sales grew by 11 per cent.
Online retailer Ocado was another particularly strong performer, as sales rose by 45.5 per cent, while the Co-op and Iceland both also saw strong demand, with sales jumping 30.6 per cent and 34.1 per cent respectively.
Sales from independent grocers and convenience stores also surged higher over the period.
“Convenience stores were a lifeline for many people in the early days of the crisis, providing essential supplies close to home,” McKevitt said.
Online sales also swelled 92 per cent over the past month, with growth marginally higher than last month.
Separate data from Nielsen revealed that, in the four weeks ending July 11, shoppers bought more alcoholic drinks, with sales of beers, wines and spirits up by 31 per cent.
Meanwhile, sales of frozen food grew by 19 per cent and meat, fish and poultry saw a 15 per cent rise in sales as warm weather led to barbecues across the country.
with PA Wires
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