DISCOUNTER Lidl continued to eat away at the market share of its rivals last month, according to the latest figures.
Analysts Kantar Worldpanel recorded the German-owned supermarket's share at 5.2 per cent in the year to February 28 - 13.7 per cent up the previous year.
It is the only significant mover in the latest set of figures that looks at consumer spending across all the main grocers right down to smaller chains and corner shops.
Tesco remains the north's most popular supermarket but its 34.5 per cent share of the market is 1.6 per cent down on the previous year.
It is followed by Sainsbury (17.8 per cent) and Asda (17.5 per cent).
Overall consumer spending rose by 0.1 per cent in the year.
That is in contrast to the Republic, where Kantar Worldpanel recorded a 3.6 per cent jump in shopper spending in the 12 weeks to February 28.
It is the third successive quarter in which spending on groceries has increased by more than 3 per cent south of the border.
Kantar Worldpanel director David Berry said: "Among the major retailers, Dunnes’ recent run of success continues with sales 7 per cent higher than last year - an increase of almost €3 million (£2.3m) per week across the quarter.
"Bigger baskets remain the primary driver of growth for Dunnes, with the average shopping trip now coming to €37.60 (£29), almost €2.50 (£1.94) higher than an last year.
"Meanwhile SuperValu has grown slightly ahead of the market, increasing sales by 3.7 per cent. This has boosted the retailer’s market share to 25 per cent, reaffirming its position as the number one supermarket in Ireland.”
Tesco remained in second place in the Republic capturing 24.2 per cent of grocery spend and increasing sales by 0.6 per cent year-on-year.
