Dunnes Stores takes top supermarket spot for second month
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New figures show that for the first time, Dunnes Stores has maintained its position as the country’s biggest grocer for two months in a row. Figures from Kantar Worldpanel show that the supermarket increased its market share of the grocery market to 22.9% for the 12 weeks to February 26. This is up from 22.5% the same time last year as sales at the supermarket chain rose by 4.6%.
Dunnes’ shoppers are adding more to their baskets while they shop there, with the average basket spend featuring an extra one and a half items. According to Kantar Worldpanel’s director David Berry, this translates into an additional €3 per trip and €25 million for the retailer in the past 12 weeks. The grocer’s “Shop and Save” initiative is also continuing to attract customers, he added.
Supervalu continues to chase Dunnes, with a 22.6% share of the market. The average SuperValu customer spent an extra €1 per trip which resulted in sales growing by 0.5% and amounting to an extra €3 million for the chain. “With Supervalu planning to open three new stores and refurbish a host of others, the retailer will be expecting to experience a boost in sales later in the year,” Mr Berry stated.
At Tesco, sales fell by 1% after 11 days of staff strikes. This follows three months of steady growth. Its market share fell to 21.7% in the 12 weeks to the end of February from 22.6% the same time last year.
The discounters’ share of the market also continued to increase with sales at Aldi and Lidl up by 5.3% and 4.1% respectively. Kantar Worldpanel said that Aldi attracted an additional 20,000 customers into its stores during the 12 week period, lifting its share of the market to 10.8%. Lidl’s growing sales saw it increase its share of the market to 10.6%.