Fears of a poor Christmas for grocery retailers were “unfounded”, TNS data revealed on Wednesday.
TNS Worldpanel share figures for the 12 weeks ending December 31, 2006, show that turnover for grocery retailers was up five per cent on this time last year.
Edward Garner, director of research at TNS Worldpanel, said: “Tesco shows the biggest gain in absolute terms with a one-point share increase to 31.4 per cent, although the share is now on a plateau having held above 31 per cent for the last nine data releases. This is a reflection of the intensity of the competition from the other retailers.
“Sainsbury traditionally trades strongly at Christmas and 2006 was no exception as it narrowed the gap with Asda to 0.2 per cent. Nevertheless, Asda saw a healthy sales increase of 5 per cent, in line with the market.”
Garner said the four per cent growth seen at Morrisons, which is its eighth successive period of positive growth, has put the retailer on the national stage.
He added that Somerfield’s share drop from 4.1 per cent to 3.9 per cent was due to store acquisitions dropping out of the annual comparisons.
The 11 per cent year-on-year increase at Waitrose made for record Christmas share of 3.9 per cent, according to TNS figures.
