LIDL is the north's biggest growing supermarket, adding 6 per cent to its sales in the year to November, according to the latest grocery market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel.
Tesco remains the giant of the aisles, commanding 35.1 per cent of the market, which is more than Sainsbury's and Asda put together.
But on annual growth, Lidl - which now has 38 stores across the north employing more than 900 staff - saw the value of its average shopping basket rise by six per cent.
According to Kantar, Lidl has performed well in branded goods, particularly in the alcohol, biscuits and confectionery aisles as shoppers gear up for the festive season.
David Berry, director at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “Inflation is at its highest level since June 2014, which has contributed to growth of 1.7 per cent for the Northern Irish grocery market over the period to November 5.
"Yet despite these rising prices shoppers aren’t reining in their spend.
"Tesco customers are making an additional two shops a year on average, helping sales grow by 2.8 per cent and its market share move above 35 per cent.
"Both Sainsbury’s and Asda have also seen sales increases, with shoppers buying more products at the former and shopping more frequently at the latter.
"And at Lidl the average basket has grown by 90 pence, helping to earn it the title of fastest growing retailer once again.”
In the Republic, Dunnes Stores has the largest market share among grocery retailers for the first time in nine months, while Storm Ophelia saw a spike in sales as shoppers stocked up ahead of the bad weather.
The Kantar Worldpanel statistics show shoppers spent €2 more per trip to Dunnes in the 12 weeks to 5 November, boosting its market share to 22.4 per cent.
Tesco’s sales are 5.1 per cent higher in the Republic than they were this time last year and it was the only one of the top five not to lose shoppers this year, with customers tempted by lower prices.
Berry added: "In the Republic it wasn’t just Christmas that consumers were stockpiling for this period.
“Storm Ophelia, which hit on October 16, had a surprisingly strong effect on the Irish grocery market.
"The week before Ophelia landed supermarkets were buoyed by a spike in sales as shoppers battened down the hatches in preparation for the course of the storm.”
