M&S’s grocery share was neck and neck with Waitrose over the last 52 weeks, according to unpublished Worldpanel data seen by The Grocer.

The supermarket’s grocery market share was 4.5% for the year to 7 September, with 4% in its shops and 0.5% via Ocado.

Waitrose had 4.5% grocery share over the period, as its share fell from 4.6% since 2023.

Worldpanel (formerly Kantar) measures the two retailers’ grocery market share using different criteria, since it does not define M&S as a grocer.

The figures put M&S on track to reach the target set by its CEO of hitting 4.5% grocery market share via its stores by 2028.

Additionally, Ocado sales rose 11.9% year on year in Worldpanel’s latest monthly published market update, spanning the 12 weeks to 7 September.

The numbers pushed Ocado’s share to 1.9% from 1.8% the year prior. M&S products make up a third of revenues on Ocado.

Waitrose’s market share during the 12 weeks was 4.4%, compared to 4.5% the year before. Its revenues rose 4.3% year on year, as M&S’s grocery sales increased by 5.9% over the period.

The market research firm does not provide a share figure for M&S as part of its monthly grocery update.

M&S food managing director Alex Freudmann said: “More customers are choosing M&S Food, whether it’s to grab dinner for tonight, family essentials in the weekly shop, or adding to basket online.

“It is particularly encouraging that M&S Food is outperforming the market in both value and volume and both in-store and online.

“Today’s figures further highlight our consistent and long-term market share growth, and we are making great progress, but there is more to do and much opportunity ahead as we work to double the size of our food business.”

A Worldpanel by Numerator spokesperson said: “Our grocery market share release provides a full view of grocers’ performance, including all expenditure through main store tills, for example excluding petrol and in-store concessions.

“Market share figures for FMCG sales only are therefore not directly comparable with Worldpanel’s broader supermarket sales dataset.”

Earlier this week, M&S announced the appointment of Jon Rolls as its new commercial & operations director for fashion, home and beauty.

Rolls joined from Primark, where he was group director of planning and space and sat on the executive team.

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