Aldi (+7.0%) and Lidl (+4.1%) posted the strongest growth in the Irish grocery market in the 12 weeks to 2 December, according to the latest market share data from Kantar Worldpanel.
The discounters currently sit on 11.6% (Aldi) and 11.3% (Lidl) market share.
Dunnes Stores retained its position as Irish grocery market leader for the third consecutive period, with a market share of 22.4% for the period – a value sales increase of 3.4%, compared to the same period last year.
SuperValu, which places second, holds a market share of 21.7%, which is a 1.3% increase in sales. Third-placed Tesco, meanwhile, holds 21.6% market share, following a 0.3% increase in sales.
Promotional Activity
According to Douglas Faughnan, consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel, promotions are playing an increasingly important role in how retailers attract shoppers.
"Dunnes’ long-running vouchering programme means shoppers spend significantly more on each trip there than at any other retailer," Faughnan said. "Dunnes’ average spend per trip of €42.60 is one of the main reasons the retailer has retained the number-one spot this period."
Overall, the grocery market grew by 2.9% in the 12-week period – its best performance since the 3.1% growth rate recorded in July, during the hot summer.
Following consumer spend of €968.2 million last Christmas, this festive period is likely to see Irish shoppers break the €1 billion spend threshold for the first time, according to Kantar Worldpanel.
"With Christmas Day falling on a Tuesday this year, this gives retailers one full extra day of trading to look forward to," said Faughnan. "As the 25 December fell on a Monday last year, Friday and Saturday were the two biggest trading days for the major grocers.
"However, with the big day coming on Tuesday this time around, we expect most households to do the bulk of their Christmas grocery shopping on the Saturday and Sunday, with extra sales on the Monday representing a welcome Christmas bonus for retailers," he added.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
