Aldi UK said on Monday that its sales increased by 3.4% in the four weeks to 24 December year-on-year to top £1.6 billion, helped by shoppers trading up to its premium own-label products.
The British arm of the German retailer said sales of its premium ‘Specially Selected’ range, including products such as Wagyu Tomahawk steak and Roly Poly whole turkey, jumped by 12% compared with the same period in 2023.
Analysts expect strength in premium food will be one of the key themes of the Christmas trading season with consumers opting to increase spending on more expensive products to eat at home rather than dining in restaurants.
Aldi UK also highlighted that it sold 350,000 fresh British turkeys, over 400 tonnes of British beef, almost 3 million British Brussel Sprouts and around 50 million mince pies.
The retailer, as well as fellow discounter Lidl GB, have expanded rapidly over the past two decades, transforming the British supermarket scene and forcing traditional players to be more aggressive on price.
Last week, Lidl GB reported a 7% rise in sales over the four-week Christmas period.
Aldi UK Results
Aldi UK – Britain’s fourth-largest grocer by market share after Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda – saw sales slow in 2024.
The most recent industry data showed Aldi UK’s sales rose 2.1% over the 12 weeks to 1 December year-on-year, with its market share unchanged at 10.3%.
The CEO of Aldi UK Giles Hurley offered a cautious outlook for the UK consumer in 2025.
Hurley said, “As we look ahead to the new year, which for many will mean the prospect of living costs rising again, many families will be nervous about what 2025 holds.”
However, he pledged that the price gap with the traditional full-price supermarkets would remain “as big as ever.”
UK supermarkets have warned that tax rises in the new Labour government’s first budget in October – together with another rise in minimum wage – will be inflationary in 2025.
Tesco and Sainsburys are due to report on Christmas trading on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
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