// Morrisons returns to growth as sales rise 0.1% but its market share has slipped further to 8.8%, Kantar figures show
// Waitrose delivered its fastest rate of growth since September 2021 as sales roles 2.1%
Morrisons has returned to growth after it fell behind rival grocers as shoppers sought out discounts elsewhere.
The supermarket’s sales edged up 0.1% in 12 weeks to March 19, although it’s market share sits at 8.8%, down from 9.5% a year ago, Kantar figures showed.
Waitrose also had a positive period as sales rose 2.1% pushing it to deliver the fastest rate of growth for the John Lewis Partnership owned supermarket since September 2021.
However, its market share has dipped from 4.8% to 4.5%.
Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free
Sign up here to get the latest news straight into your inbox each morning
Discount rival Aldi secured a new record market share of 9.9% this month driven by a 25.4% surge in sales while Lidl was the fastest growing supermarket as sales rocketed 25.8%, achieving a market share of 7.4%.
Kantar figures revealed grocery inflation reached a record high of 17.5% over the four weeks to 19 March 2023 with households now facing an £837 increase in their annual bills.
Head of retail and consumer insight Fraser McKevitt said: “Unfortunately, it’s more bad news for the British public, who are experiencing the ninth month of double-digit grocery price inflation.
“However, shoppers are taking action and clearly hunting around for the best value.”
McKevitt said supermarkets are tackling grocery price inflation and are battling it out to demonstrate value and get customers through their doors.
“This is a fiercely competitive sector and if people don’t like the prices in one store they will go elsewhere, with consumers visiting three or more of the top 10 retailers in any given month on average,” he added.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
