JSAIY J Sainsbury Plc (QX)

By Ian Walker

LONDON--German discount grocer Aldi was the clear winner in terms of U.K. sales growth over the 12 weeks ending Jan. 1, posting a near 12% increase on the year, with peer Lidl coming in a close second, according to a survey Tuesday.

Within the top four, number one grocer by market share Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN) boosted sales 1.3%, while Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC's (MRW.LN) sales grew 1.2%, although both lost market share, Kantar Worldpanel said. Kantar monitors the grocery-purchasing habits of 25,000 demographically representative households in the U.K.

In the 12 weeks ended Jan. 1, Tesco's market share fell to 28.2%, from 28.3% in the comparable 12 weeks ended Jan. 3, 2016, while sales rose to 7.85 billion pounds ($9.53 billion).

Aldi and Lidl's joint market share rose to 10.4% in the 12 weeks ended Jan. 1, from 9.7% in the comparable 12 weeks last year. Aldi's market share rose to 6% from 5.5%, while Lidl's rose to 4.4% from 4.2%.

Aldi's 12-week sales grew 12% to GBP1.68 billion, while Lidl's increased 7.5% to GBP1.23 billion.

Sainsbury PLC's (SBRY.LN) market share fell to 16.7% from 17%, while sales fell 0.1% to GBP4.66 billion.

Asda, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), saw its market share fall to 15.5% from 16.2%, and its sales drop 2.4% to GBP4.32 billion.

Wm Morrison's market share fell to 10.9% from 11%, but sales increased to GBP3.04 billion

Up-market retailer Waitrose's market share rose to 5.3% from 5.2%, and sales climbed 3% to GBP1.46 billion.

Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 10, 2017 03:57 ET (08:57 GMT)

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