Co-operative '˜fastest growing non-discount grocer'

Sales jumped 1.4% in the 12 weeks to the end of January compared to a year ago, according to Kantar Worldpanel. It is the firm’s fastest growth since 2011, although its market share remains at 5.9%.

It is also the country’s most visited grocer, with customers shopping there 19 times on average over the last three months, compared to the market average of 11 visits.

But, at the other end of the scale, major supermarket Asda’s renewed discounting programme is still to feed through into its trading as sales tumbled 3.8%, while its market share slipped to 16.2% from 16.9%.

Tesco, which has renewed its focus on its UK stores, saw its sales fall by 1.6%, although this was its best showing since September. Its market share also eased to 28.5% from 29%.

A fierce price war continues to rage in the supermarket sector as established chains battle for market share against discounters such as Aldi and Lidl.

Prices in the sector have fallen for more than a year as staples like milk and bread have been reduced. Sainsbury’s boosted sales for the sixth quarter in a row, growing by 0.6% and lifting its market share to 16.8% from 16.7% over the period.

Morrisons’ sales decline lessened to 2.2%, while its market share fell by 0.3% to 10.8%.

The report said the Bradford-based chain’s figures will continue to reflect the recent disposal of its convenience stores and a number of larger unprofitable outlets as it focuses on its core supermarkets.

Discounters Lidl and Aldi saw their sales grow by 18.7% and 13.7% respectively, which took their respective market shares to 3.5% and 5.2%.