SuperValu have regained the top spot in the battle for Ireland’s biggest grocery retailer. Dunnes Stores has held the spot for the previous two months but SuperValu finished with a market share of 22.6% ahead this month, preventing Dunnes (22.3%) from achieving three in a row.
Despite losing the top spot, Dunnes’ sales grew by 3.2% year-on-year marking the 30th consecutive period of growth for the retailer. Lidl’s success continues too as the retailer experiences a 3.7% increase in sales. Customers visited Lidl stores once more over the past 12 weeks, compared to the same period last year. Aldi retain their crown as Ireland’s fasting growing retailer with sales growing by 5.0%. The retailer increased its market share to 11.3%, closing the gap with its closest rival Lidl to just 0.1%.
Kantar’s latest figures also illustrate an emerging trend amongst consumers towards own label product. Own label goods now account for 54% of total grocery spend – up 6% in the past four years. Discount retailers Aldi and Lidl are responsible for driving the trend with the majority of their stock is made up of own-label so they have driven this growth, with shoppers now also more accustomed to seeing own-label ranges on shelves.
“SuperValu and Tesco have both responded and expanded their own-label ranges,” said David Berry, director at Kantar Worldpanel Berry “The retailers see this as a real opportunity for growth, with own-label lines offering them the chance to set themselves apart from the rest.
However well-known brands are still dominating in Dunnes Stores, with own-label accounting for just 38% of the retailer’s sales this year – up only 1% since 2013, much lower than its competitors.
