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Lidl and Aldi hope to take lion's share of Christmas market

Retailers are gearing up for Christmas by investing in new product lines, loyalty campaigns and multi-platform marketing.

The hard discounters are investing in more ranges and marketing to gain an even bigger share, after having been the standout winners at Christmas 2012.

Lidl has released its first ever television advert in the UK and is expecting sales of its Deluxe range to grow by 50 per cent.

Aldi launches its Christmas campaign on Monday having doubled the size of its Specially Selected range to include fresh lobster tails and a fresh version of its popular three-bird roast.

Both Waitrose and Morrisons have launched schemes to encourage shopper loyalty. Waitrose is offering holders of its loyalty card, now held by 2.5 million shoppers, a £25 voucher to spend in January if they spend at least £50 on four occasions before 1 December. Morrisons is going down a similar route as shoppers who complete nine transactions of at least £40 by 15 December are rewarded with a £40 voucher.

Tesco has relaunched its scheme to redeem Clubcard points at double their face value.

M&S is placing emphasis on new product launches backed up by tasting kitchens in selected stores. With its focus on special occasions, the premium retailer is aiming to strengthen its position as a destination for 'food magic when it matters most'.