THE north's grocery market grew by 5.7 per cent during the 52 weeks to June 14, with sales accelerating most (17.8 per cent) during the most recent 12 weeks of lockdown, according to figures by retail analysts Kantar.
Lidl remained the best performing retailer, increasing its sales by 10 per cent year-on-year and its market share to 6.2 per cent. Lidl customers have been doing larger shops, picking up extra items each visit to store, and choosing more premium and branded items when they are there.
Northern Ireland’s largest retailer Tesco grew its sales by 6.3 per cent and also added 0.2 percentage points of share this period, driven by larger basket sizes alongside a rise in average prices of 1.6 per cent.
Sales at Asda were up this month by 0.5 per cent and at Sainsbury’s by 6.2 per cent. Sainsbury’s shoppers have been doing larger trips (up 5.3 per cent) and spending £1.75 extra per trip on average.
But it is Asda customers who have made the biggest additions to their weekly food shop, increasing them 12.1 per cent and spending an additional £3.26 each time.
Emer Healy at Kantar said: “Consumers are still being conscious of health and hygiene. Sales of household cleaners have risen by 14.9 per cent and liquid soap by 57.6 per cent in the 52 weeks to 14 June.
“The recent good weather and easing of restrictions that allowed people to meet others outside their household, has seen them spend an extra £40.5 million on alcohol, £7.9 million on soft drinks and £3.4 million on savoury snacks.”
