Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, lifted its annual profit forecast after market share gains drove a 10% rise in the first half, giving it momentum ahead of the festive trading period.
Shares in the group, which has a nearly 28% share of the UK grocery market, climbed 3%, taking gains so far this year to 26%.
CEO Ken Murphy said Tesco's work to improve its value and the quality of its products and service had delivered volume growth ahead of its expectations in its first half to 24 August.
"It gives us great momentum going into Christmas," he told reporters.
'Strong Festive Demand'
Tesco was planning for strong festive demand, he said, believing the UK consumer was "in reasonably good shape".
It expected retail adjusted operating profit, its preferred profit measure, of around £2.9 billion ($3.8 billion) for its 2024/25 financial year, up from a previous forecast of at least £2.8 billion.
It made £2.76 billion in 2023/24 and £1.56 billion in the first half of its 2024/25 year.
Its UK like-for-like sales rose 3.5% in its second quarter, after a 4.6% increase in the first, reflecting an easing of inflation.
Tesco also benefited from its strategy of matching the prices of discounter Aldi on nearly 800 items, and the popularity of its Clubcard loyalty scheme, which provides lower prices for members. These programmes are financed by cost savings.
Tesco's market share rose 60 basis points year-on-year to 27.8% in the 12 weeks to 1 September, its highest since January 2022, researcher Kantar said.
"We don't really think too much about what's going on with competitors. We're much more focused on being the very best we can be, following our strategy, bringing great value, creating great products, and so far it's working for us," Murphy told journalists.
Market Trends
In contrast to Tesco's update, other UK retail data has been subdued, particularly for more discretionary, larger ticket items such as furniture, kitchens and bathrooms.
Non-food products represent just 7% of Tesco's sales.
Surveys have shown UK consumer confidence fell following warnings from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's about the British economy's weakness and the likely need for tax increases in an Oct. 30 budget.
On Wednesday, the boss of rival Sainsbury's told Reuters Britons will be cautious about spending until the budget brings clarity and interest rates fall further.
News by Reuters, additional reporting by ESM.
