Spanish grocery sales were up by 1.3% in 2017, driven by increased volumes, according to the latest report from Kantar Worldpanel.
The average Spanish household spent €4,190 on grocery products over the year, with shoppers in Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country spending above average.
According to the report, one of the main drivers for growth last year was healthy eating, with 74% of consumers following a health-focused diet, and 38% saying that they are prepared to pay more for products that are beneficial for their health.
Sales of fresh produce were up by 0.9%, with strong growth recorded for healthy options, such as avocado (+25.7%), salmon (+13.4%), cabbage (+12.3%), cod (+11.3%), and bananas (+5.8%).
The trend was also seen in packaged foods, with increases in sales of chickpeas (+13.3%), lentils (+13%) and nuts (+11.6%).
Additionally, sales of organic produce were up by 14%.
Retail Growth
According to Kantar Worldpanel, Mercadona and Lidl saw the biggest growth among the grocery chains in 2017, with market leader Mercadona obtaining 24.1% market share, up 1.2% on the previous year.
“Mercadona and Lidl are progressing with their store renovation programmes and aim to lead the way for new trends, to cement their position as market leader in the minds of consumers,” said Florencio García, Iberia Retail Sector Director at Kantar Worldpanel.
Carrefour also increased its market share by 0.2%, and consolidated its position as Spain's second largest grocer, with 8.7% share.
However, Eroski, DIA, and Auchan all saw decreases in their market shares, as a results of rising competition, and declines in the hypermarket segment.
Ratings agency Moody's has said that Mercadona's improving performance is threatening these retailers, causing them to cut prices to bolster their competitive position, eroding profit margins.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
