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| Sainsbury's beats Asda to become UK's second biggest grocer | Sainsbury's beats Asda to become UK's second biggest grocer |
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| Asda’s downfall was laid bare today as Sainsbury’s overtook the supermarket to become the country’s second biggest grocer for only the third time in 12 years. | Asda’s downfall was laid bare today as Sainsbury’s overtook the supermarket to become the country’s second biggest grocer for only the third time in 12 years. |
| The Walmart-owned supermarket has struggled this year with its lack of convenience stores and more customers heading for Aldi and Lidl, while a resurgent Sainsbury’s under chief executive Mike Coupe has managed to stem the flow of falling sales. | The Walmart-owned supermarket has struggled this year with its lack of convenience stores and more customers heading for Aldi and Lidl, while a resurgent Sainsbury’s under chief executive Mike Coupe has managed to stem the flow of falling sales. |
| The latest industry data from Kantar Worldpanel showed that Asda’s sales fell 2.7% in the 12 weeks to July 19 compared with a year ago, giving it a market share of 16.4%, while Sainsbury’s saw a 0.3% fall in sales but its market share now sits at 16.5%. Tesco still accounts for the majority of the market, at 28.5%. | The latest industry data from Kantar Worldpanel showed that Asda’s sales fell 2.7% in the 12 weeks to July 19 compared with a year ago, giving it a market share of 16.4%, while Sainsbury’s saw a 0.3% fall in sales but its market share now sits at 16.5%. Tesco still accounts for the majority of the market, at 28.5%. |
| Asda has also steadfastly refused to enter the major couponing its rivals have embarked over the last year, with discounts for new customers offered virtually every week elsewhere. | Asda has also steadfastly refused to enter the major couponing its rivals have embarked over the last year, with discounts for new customers offered virtually every week elsewhere. |
| There were also signs that Morrisons was turning a corner under new boss David Potts, as sales dipped just 0.1% - the smallest fall of the Big Four supermarkets. The Co-operative also managed to pull back from endless falls in sales, recording a rise of 1% - up for the first time in 12 months. | There were also signs that Morrisons was turning a corner under new boss David Potts, as sales dipped just 0.1% - the smallest fall of the Big Four supermarkets. The Co-operative also managed to pull back from endless falls in sales, recording a rise of 1% - up for the first time in 12 months. |
| But none could stop the endless rise of Aldi and Lidl, which went back to strong sales growth, up 16.6% and 11.3% respectively over the period. Some had suggested that the German discounters’ growth had peaked as its store openings slowed down. | But none could stop the endless rise of Aldi and Lidl, which went back to strong sales growth, up 16.6% and 11.3% respectively over the period. Some had suggested that the German discounters’ growth had peaked as its store openings slowed down. |
| There were also signs that customers had taken advantage of Waitrose’s new loyalty offer, where shoppers can pick ten items that they will always receive 20% off. Sales rose 3%, with its market share now at 5%. | There were also signs that customers had taken advantage of Waitrose’s new loyalty offer, where shoppers can pick ten items that they will always receive 20% off. Sales rose 3%, with its market share now at 5%. |
| Sainsbury’s traditionally overtakes Asda at Christmas when shoppers trade up and took second spot in January but has not overtaken Asda outside of Christmas since 2003. | |
| Overall, there was a small amount of growth across the sector – up 0.8%, however, the falling oil prices and the ongoing price wars mean a typical shopping basket is now 1.6% cheaper than a year ago. | Overall, there was a small amount of growth across the sector – up 0.8%, however, the falling oil prices and the ongoing price wars mean a typical shopping basket is now 1.6% cheaper than a year ago. |