Aldi and Lidl grab record Christmas sales share as Asda and Co-op slide

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by Sarah ButlerJanuary 6, 2026 at 10:43 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Aldi and Lidl achieved a record 16.8% share of the British grocery market during the four weeks leading up to December 28th, driven by consumers seeking savings amid rising household bills. Total grocery spending reached £13.8 billion, a 3.8% increase year-on-year, with fresh meat and chilled snacks being top sellers. While Lidl experienced the fastest growth among physical chains, Asda and Co-op saw sales and market share decline. Waitrose and Ocado also experienced strong sales growth, indicating varied spending habits. Online grocery sales rose by 7.5%, capturing 12.2% of the market. Overall spending increased at a slower rate than grocery inflation, suggesting shoppers opted for cheaper alternatives and reduced purchases.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Waitrose 40% Marks & Spencer 40% Fraser McKevitt 40% Morrisons 50% Ocado ×250% Germany 50% Worldpanel by Numerator ×360% Co-op ×260% Asda ×470% Britain 80% Aldi ×390% Lidl ×490%

Keywords

grocery market 90% christmas sales 80% lidl 70% market share 70% aldi 70% grocery inflation 60% discount chains 60% household bills 50% online grocery sales 50% own-label products 40%