New figures have revealed that grocery price inflation accelerated again, sitting at 5.2%, hitting the highest level since January 2024, while take-home sales at the grocers grew by 5.4% in the four weeks to 13^th July, according to Worldpanel (formerly Kantar).

With just under two thirds of households concerned about the cost of their food shop, their fears may well be realised with the prediction by Worldpanel that this latest rise could add almost £300 to their annual food bill if shopping habits remain the same.

Head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, Fraser McKevitt said that people are adapting their habits in an attempt to avoid the full impact of price rises.

“Own label products, which are often cheaper, continue to be some of the big winners and in fact, sales of these ranges are again outpacing brands, growing by 5.6% versus 4.9%,” said Fraser.

“These inflationary worries aren’t just changing what we buy, but how we prepare it too. We often see people choosing to make simpler meals when they are trying to save money and today, almost seven in 10 dinner plates include fewer than six components.”

With budgets under pressure, supermarkets have been finding new ways to pique the interest of consumers, with innovation absolutely vital to help grocers keep up with new trends and make sure they’re meeting shoppers’ needs as behaviours and priorities shift.

“The drinks aisle in particular seems to be offering up plenty of inspiration,” added Fraser.

“Iced coffee has soared in popularity in recent years and with summer temperatures rising, sales were up this month by 81%. No and low alcohol drinks continue their gradual march into the mainstream too, with nearly seven in every 100 households buying a product this month, pushing sales up by 21%.”

Meanwhile, Lidl reached a record high market share this period at 8.3%, gaining 0.5 percentage points as it attracted more than half a million new customers to its stores.

Tesco also boosted its share to 28.3% as sales grew by 7.1%, the fastest rate since December 2023, while sales at Sainsbury’s increased by 5.3%, putting its market share at 15.1%. Convenience specialist, Co-op takes 5.2% of the market, and frozen expert Iceland holds 2.2% of grocery spending.

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In the year to 15^th June, £4.4 billion was spent in the Northern Ireland grocery sector, and while shoppers made 2.1% fewer trips to stores, they bought more items per visit, subsequently adding £66.8 million to overall market growth.

The latest figures from Kantar also show that grocery inflation now stands at 2.79%, up from 2.55% last month.

The arrival of warmer weather encouraged shoppers to indulge in seasonal favourites, resulting in an additional £17 million spent on antipasti, suncare, wine, bottled water, squash and frozen treats.

Spending on branded goods rose by £42.4 million, a 1.8% year-on-year increase, pushing branded value share to 54.9%. Own-label products also performed well, growing by 1.7% with an additional £30.9 million spent. These products now represent 43.2% of the market by value.

“To make the most of their budgets, many consumers turned to a mix of own-label and promotional offers,” said Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar.

“Promotions remain a key part of the market, accounting for 22.7% of value sales, with nearly £1 billion spent on discounted items.”

Looking at supermarket share, Tesco retains the largest market share at 37%, up 7% from last year. This growth was driven by both new customer acquisition and increased purchasing from existing shoppers alongside larger trips, contributing £46 million to its overall performance.

Sainsbury’s holds a 16.7% market share, up 0.4% year-on-year. A rise in shopper numbers and basket size helped boost its performance by £68.5 million.

Meanwhile Asda, with a 15.9% share, also grew by 0.4%, benefiting from increased store visits which added £3.1 million in sales. Lidl’s market share rose to 9.2%, an increase of 2.7%, as the retailer attracted new customers and existing ones shopped more frequently. This resulted in a combined uplift of £12.9 million.

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In the year to 18^th May 2025, £4.4 billion passed through the tills of grocers in Northern Ireland, an increase of 1.5% compared to last year.

Kantar suggests this growth may also be linked to the warmer weather we enjoyed last month. Although shoppers made fewer store visits, down 1.7%, they did pick up more items per trip. This behaviour contributed an additional £59.1 million to the overall market performance.

Meanwhile, grocery inflation in Northern Ireland now stands at 2.32%, slightly up from 2.26% the previous month.

Shoppers across the region bathed in the warmer weather with alfresco dining and as a result, spent an extra £4.7 million on sausages, potato salad and dips. Wine sales also rose, with an additional £3.7 million spent compared to this time in 2024.

Business Development Director at Kantar, Emer Healy said that many shoppers sought value through a combination of promotions and own-label options.

“Promotional activity remains strong, making up over 22.6% of value sales, with nearly £1 billion spent on promotional deals,” said Emer.

“Spending on branded products rose by £31.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 1.3%, boosting branded value share to 54.8%. Own-label products grew at a faster rate of 1.8%, with spending up by £32.7 million, bringing own-label value share to 43.3%.”

Meanwhile, Tesco continues to lead the market with a 36.9% share, up 6.6% on last year. Its growth was driven by more frequent trips and the attraction of new shoppers, adding £50.1 million to its performance.

Sainsbury’s holds a 16.7% share, up 0.3% year-on-year. This growth came from both new shoppers and increased volumes from existing ones, contributing £84.9 million overall.

Asda’s market share rose to 16%, up 0.9%, with more trips and larger baskets adding £7.9 million to its performance. Lidl now holds a 9.2% share, an increase of 2.3%. Its growth was supported by more frequent visits from existing customers and the addition of new shoppers, contributing £6.8 million.

The post NI grocery market share boosted by summer favourites and promotions first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Take-home grocery sales grew by 4.4% over the four weeks to 18^th May compared with last year, while in the same period, grocery price inflation also saw a marked rise to 4.1% – its highest level since February 2024.

Prices rose fasts in markets such as chocolate confectionery, suncare and butters & spreads, while the fastest falls came in dog food, cat food and household paper products.

With the hottest start to May on record, barbecue favourites and sun cream were amongst the top purchases for consumers, who also continue to shop with health in mind, with sales of sports nutrition products and fresh fruit surging since the start of the year.

The latest figures from Kantar show that consumers continue to shape their diets around lifestyle choices, but getting the best value is forefront of their considerations.

“The growth of spending on deals has carried on this month, increasing by 5.1% versus May last year,” said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar.

“Trimming prices remains the most popular way for retailers to draw in customers, with 80% of promotional spending this period down to straightforward price cuts.”

Amidst the rises, there were reasons to be cheerful with shoppers enjoying the hottest ever start to the month.

“We’ve been firing up the barbecues a bit earlier than last year, with chilled burgers flying off the shelves and sales growing by 27%,” added Fraser.

Shoppers didn’t forget the all-important sides, as sales of potato salad rocketed by 32% and coleslaw and prepared salads by 19% each. As the mercury rose, sun cream sales also shot up by 36% as Brits made the most of the spring sun.

With the mid-year point approaching, Kantar has been investigating what’s been trending in supermarket baskets, with Fraser stating consumers have health, well-being and exercise seemingly top of many people’s minds.

“Sports nutrition products have been the biggest winners,” he said.

“The number of these products bought has surged by 45% over the past five months versus the same time in 2024. Volume sales of cottage cheese, flatbreads and fresh prepared fruit have all be growing strongly too, up by 30%, 29% and 22% in each case.”

Meanwhile, it was a strong period for discounters, which achieved their strongest combined growth since January last year at 8.4%. Lidl reached a new share high of 8.1% with sales up by 10.9%.

Compared with the same period last year, it brought 419,000 extra shoppers through its doors, the most of any retailer.

Tesco boosted sales by 5.9% to increase its share by 0.4 percentage points and now has 28.0% of the market, while sales growth at Sainsbury’s accelerated by 4.7%, giving it a 15.1% share, and Asda saw its best performance since May last year, with its share now standing at 12.1%.

Despite enduring the repercussions of the cyber attack, spending on groceries at M&S rose by 12.3%, while sales at Co-op increased by 0.6% to take 5.3% of the market.

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The latest data from Kantar reveals a change within Easter tastes as sales of hot cross buns, once a seasonal staple, declined by 12.9% year-on-year.

In the 52 weeks to 20^th April 2025, £4.3 billion passed through the tills of Northern Irish grocers, marking a 1.4% increase compared to the previous year. And while consumers made 1.4% fewer trips to stores, they picked up more products on each visit, resulting in an additional £47.4 million in grocery sales, according to the newest figures from Kantar.

Shoppers spent an additional £10.7 million on chocolate confectionery and a further £5.3 million on gifting and boxed chocolates compared to the same period last year, while Easter’s favourable weekend weather also influenced purchasing patterns.

Sales of sausages rose by 10.1%, potato salad by a remarkable 41% and wine by 17%, suggesting many households opted for outdoor celebrations and barbecues instead of traditional meals.

While inflation has not budged since last month and holds at 2.32% compared to the same 52-week period last year, shoppers continued to seek value and treat themselves where possible.

“Promotional offers played a key role in balancing indulgence with affordability,” said Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar.

BRAND VERSUS OWN-LABEL

“Promotions remained a central strategy for Northern Irish shoppers navigating their costs. Promotional sales accounted for 22.5% of total grocery value, with nearly £1 billion spent on deals over the last year. Many consumers struck a balance by pairing own-label basics with occasional branded treats to maximise both value and enjoyment.

“Despite inflationary pressures, branded products continued to outperform own-label items. Consumers spent an additional £32 million on branded goods, representing a 1.4% year-on-year rise and lifting branded value share to 54.7%. Own-label lines grew more modestly by 1.3%, equating to £24.6 million in additional spend and holding a 43.3% share of the market.”

Meanwhile, retailer performance also reflected seasonal trends and competitive positioning. Tesco strengthened its lead in the market, now holding a 36.8% share, up 6.3% compared to last year. This growth was fuelled by a rise in shopping trips and new customer acquisition, contributing £50.3 million in additional sales.

Sainsbury’s also grew its market share, more slightly – to 16.7%, driven by both new shoppers and higher volumes from existing customers, generating £73.2 million in added performance. Asda also saw gains, increasing its market share to 16.1%, with both more frequent store visits and larger basket sizes contributing to £10.6 million in growth.

Lidl, holding 9.2% of the market, benefited from attracting new shoppers and encouraging both repeat visits and larger trips, adding £6.8 million to its performance.

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