Latest data from Kantar shows that grocery sales in Northern Ireland grew 1.2% in the 52 weeks to 14 July 2019.
Analysis found that the average Northern Irish shopper made smaller but more frequent trips to the retailers over the course of the year, with the overall volume of groceries purchased down by 0.5%. However, consumers are paying higher prices, as inflation for the year hit 2.2%, meaning the value of the market remained on an upward trajectory.
Commenting on individual retailer performances, Douglas Faughnan, consumer insight director at Kantar said: “Tesco, which now accounts for 35.0% of grocery sales in Northern Ireland, is the only one of the big three retailers currently enjoying sales growth, with Sainsbury’s and Asda in decline by 0.5% and 0.6% respectively.
“Asda continues to perform strongly with families, which account for 34% of the retailer’s sales. Sainsbury’s typically attracts an older profile of shopper – retired people and empty-nesters account for more than half of sales.
“Lidl remains the fastest growing retailer in the North, with sales up 8.2% for the year. While more than three quarters of Northern Irish consumers visited Lidl at least once in the past 12 months, the retailer’s growth has largely come through shoppers increasing the amount they spend per trip by over £1.70, raising the average value of a Lidl shop in Northern Ireland to £16.07.”
