Aldi just became the UK’s fifth largest grocer
Aldi has become the UK's fifth largest grocer by market share, overtaking the Co-op.
According to data from Kantar Worldpanel, Aldi grew its sales by 12.4 per cent in the 12 weeks ending 29 January. Its share of the market now stands at 6.2 per cent.
Read more: A Lidl competition: Aldi becomes the highest-paying supermarket in the UK
The German discounter is now just ahead of the Co-op, but still some way behind the fourth largest supermarket in the UK Morrisons, which has a market share of 10.9 per cent.
Overall, supermarket sales grew by 1.7 per cent during the period. And currency movements are starting to push up prices; like-for-like inflation on a basket of groceries was 0.7 per cent.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, explains: “Just a decade ago Aldi was the UK’s tenth largest food retailer, accounting for less than two per cent of the grocery market.
"Since then the grocer has grown rapidly, climbing the rankings by an impressive five places to hold a 6.2 per cent market share.
"Underpinned by an extensive programme of store openings, the past quarter has seen Aldi attract 826,000 more shoppers than during the same period last year."
Asda meanwhile suffered a sales slide over the period, with sales falling by 1.9 per cent.
