Business

Grocery sales dip - but shoppers choose to 'clean up'

Sales of household cleaning products including bleach and surface cleaner rose by 2.1 per cent over the last quarter, according to data from Kantar
Sales of household cleaning products including bleach and surface cleaner rose by 2.1 per cent over the last quarter, according to data from Kantar Sales of household cleaning products including bleach and surface cleaner rose by 2.1 per cent over the last quarter, according to data from Kantar

NORTHERN Ireland grocery sales dipped by 6.7 per cent in the 52 weeks to March 20 as prices rose across the board and grocery inflation over the period hit 0.8 per cent, new data from Kantar shows.

People are returning to more typical shopping patterns post-pandemic, with shoppers making more frequent trips to the supermarket (visits were up 0.7 per cent).

But there has been an 8.3 per cent decline in the number of items in people’s trolleys now that they aren’t looking to treat themselves at home as much as they did during lockdown.

Emer Healy, senior retail analyst at Kantar, said: “Northern Irish shoppers are freshening themselves up to return to socialising and getting ready for some spring cleaning too.

“Sales of personal care products like deodorant and shampoo increased by 5.8 per cent over the past three months.

“Household cleaning products including bleach and surface cleaner have also seen a boost in the same period, with sales up by 2.1 per cent as shoppers keep an eye on health and hygiene.”

Tesco remains top of the table as the north’s largest grocer with a market share of 36 per cent, and, while sales dropped by 6.1 per cent compared with last year, it registered 4.6 per cent growth against early 2020.

Sainsbury’s holds a 16.9 per cent share of the market while Asda stands at 16.3 per cent and, with a 7 per cent share, Lidl is the fastest growing retailer and the only grocer to achieve growth year on year.