Aldi and Lidl's sales keep growing but at slower pace

Aldi and Lidl's sales continue to grow, according to the latest Kantar Worldpanel figures, but at a slower pace than recent months.

The discounters remain the fastest-growing businesses in the supermarket sector in terms of sales, with Aldi's sales rising by 15.1 per cent to £1.36 billion year on year in the 12 weeks to 26 April, and Lidl's sales going up in the same period by 10.1 per cent to £969m.

Aldi’s market share of the UK grocery sector is now 5.4 per cent, still ahead of Waitrose at 5.1 per cent, while Lidl’s market share is at 3.8 per cent.

However, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Fraser McKevitt, said: “While such growth is the envy of the industry, it is slower than in recent months, suggesting the discounter momentum is starting to slow a little.”

Overall sales in the grocery sector grew by 0.2 per cent in the three months the Kantar Worldpanel data covers, a fall on the previous year, with grocery price deflation being blamed.

Sainsbury’s was the strongest performer among the big four despite a 0.2 per cent fall in sales in the period. The group’s market share now stands at 16.5 per cent.

Tesco’s sales slipped by 1 per cent, giving it a market share of 28.4 per cent, while Asda’s sales fell 2.2 per cent, meaning its market share is 16.9 per cent.