Online retailer Ocado, discounter Lidl and supermarket Marks & Spencer were the UK’s fastest-growing grocers in the first quarter, data from NIQ revealed on Thursday.
The market researcher said Ocado’s sales rose 12.0% in the 12 weeks to 20 April year-on-year.
Lidl’s sales were up 9.5% and Marks & Spencer’s were up 9.3%.
All three retailers saw their market share increase.
The data – the most up-to-date view of UK consumer behaviour – showed market leader Tesco’s sales grew 5.8%.
Number two supermarket Sainsburys saw sales grow by 6.6%.
The third largest supermarket group Asda saw sales growth decline by 0.9%.
Discounter Aldi saw modest sales growth of 1.3% maintaining its fourth position in market share, followed by Morrisons which saw growth of 4.4%.
According to NIQ, the four weeks to 20 April saw total till sale growth in the UK slow to 3.4%.
This reflected a slowdown in inflation, an earlier Easter and a drop in general merchandise sales.
Food inflation slowed for a twelfth consecutive month, to 3.4% down from 3.7%.
Products such as butter, fish and fruits fell in price as a result.
NIQ reported that spending on promotions rose to 25.3% in the four-week period, up from 24% in the previous month.
Mike Watkins, NIQ’s UK head of retailer and business insight said, “Shoppers continue to shop around for the best offers.
“But there is a question mark about spending on fashion, technology and home goods with holidays and leisure activities more likely to see an uptick when disposable income increases.”
Read More: British Grocery Price Inflation Slows To 5.3% – Kantar
