Take-home grocery sales slowed in Ireland for the four weeks to 21 January 2024, with a 2.2% increase following a record-breaking Christmas period, according to Kantar.
Although sales in January started to slow, compared to December’s 7.8% increase, shoppers spent an additional €21.4 million, compared to the same period last year.
Grocery inflation currently stands at 5.9% in the 12 weeks to 21 January – down by 1.2 percentage points, compared to 7.1% in December.
Retailers
Online sales remained strong, with a 17.7% increase, year on year, in the four weeks to 21 January 2024, with more frequent trips by shoppers being a big contributor thereto.
Some 18.5% of Irish households purchase groceries online.
Retailers Dunnes, Tesco and Lidl all grew ahead of the total market, in terms of value, in January.
Dunnes reached a new record share of 24.6%, with growth of 9.9%, year on year. Tesco holds 23.8% of the market, and SuperValu holds 20.6%.
In terms of growth, Tesco grew by 9.4%, year on year, and Lidl grew by 8.2%, now holding a 12.5% share.
Among all the retailers listed, more frequent trips by shoppers contributed significantly to growth. Dunnes also saw the highest increase in new shoppers across the retailers.
Budgeting
Emer Healy, business development director at Kantar, commented on Irish shoppers budgeting carefully following the Christmas period.
Healy noted that consumers were opting for supermarket own-label products, and that the amount of sales on promotion had grown by 9.9%, year on year.
She also acknowledged the impact that new-year health kicks had on sales.
“Across Ireland, consumers took on Dry January,” Healy said, “with alcohol sales falling by 8.6% and shoppers spending €7.4 million less during January, compared to last year.
“Sales of non-alcoholic beverages jumped [by] 8.9%, with shoppers spending €125,000 more, year on year.”
However, Veganuary did not have the same impact.
Despite nearly 38% of Irish households buying chilled or frozen plant-based products, sales thereof fell by 2.8%, with shoppers spending €200,000 less, compared to last year.
Instead, shoppers seemed to prioritise ease when adjusting to new routines. As a result, €3.3 million more was spent on chilled convenience.
Read More: UK Grocery Price Inflation Falls At Slower Rate Than Expected – Kantar
