// Aldi has posted record Christmas sales as British shoppers saw their budgets squeezed by the rising cost of living.
// The grocer highlighted strong sales of fresh meat products, with poultry and pork up 28% for the month
Aldi UK and Ireland has delivered its best Christmas to date with sales growing by 26% and topping £1.4 billion in December for the first time.
The value grocer highlighted strong growth in sales of fresh meat, with fresh poultry and pork sales both rising by over 28%.
It said sales of chilled desserts and fresh cheeses jumped by almost 30% and 50% respectively, while sales of snacks such as crisps and nuts were up over 40% as the 2022 World Cup coincided with the run up to Christmas for the first time.
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Aldi also revealed that customers bought more than 48 million mince pies, 38 million pigs-in-blankets and more than 1,700 tonnes of sprouts in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Monthly industry data has consistently shown Aldi and fellow German rival Lidl as the fastest-growing UK grocers during the cost-of-living crisis as consumers seek out the best deals.
Last month Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts pledged to invest £550m in keeping prices low over the next two years as the supermarket battles with losing trade to discounters amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Aldi UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said: “This year, Christmas was all about family and football as people came together to celebrate in a way we’ve not enjoyed for years. I’m immensely proud of our amazing colleagues who once again went above and beyond to deliver an amazing Christmas for our customers.
“As the UK’s cheapest supermarket, we were able to help shoppers enjoy the Christmas they deserved and provide them with the highest quality products at the most affordable prices.
“As we head into a new year, our promise to customers is that they will always get the UK’s lowest prices at Aldi, no matter what.”
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