The latest data from Worldpanel by Numerator has detailed how take-home sales at UK grocers increased by 4.4% on the year in the four weeks to 22nd March 2026.
Over the 12 weeks ending 22nd March, Lidl increased market share by 0.5%. Sales at the discounter rose 9.6% year on year, taking its share to 8.3% of the market. Online retailer Ocado reported sales rose by 12.3%, now accounting for 2.2% of the market, up from 2% in 2025.
Sainsburys attracted more new households than any other grocer, with 387,000 more customers through the door than in the same 12 weeks a year ago. At 5.5%, the retailer recorded its fastest growth since June 2025, with share moving from 15.3% last year to 15.6%. Tesco made the same share gain, an increase of 0.3%, giving the retailer 28% of all sales. Spending through tills was up by 5%.
Sales at both Aldi and Morrisons increased by 2.3%, resulting in a market share of 10.6% and 8.3% respectively. Asda held 11.6% of the market with sales down 0.9%, but Numerator highlighted that this marks the best performance for the retailer since April 2024.
Higher average spending per trip drove 5.8% sales growth at Waitrose, the fastest rate of growth in five years, taking share up 0.1% to 4.7%. Co-op share stood at 5.1% and Iceland at 2.3%. Grocery sales at M&S increased over the 12 weeks by 9.5%, the fastest since June last year.
The market research firm found that the rate of like-for-like grocery inflation had held steady at 4.3%, with prices rising fastest in markets such as fresh, unprocessed meat, chilled meal solutions and coffee. Prices were falling fastest in chilled butter and spreads, sugar confectionery and household paper.
“With grocery inflation likely to increase and fuel costs rising sharply, the conditions that make shoppers feel vulnerable are only intensifying.”
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel by Numerator commented: “Financial anxiety among British consumers was already running high before the conflict began. And with grocery inflation likely to increase and fuel costs rising sharply, the conditions that make shoppers feel vulnerable are only intensifying.
“Shoppers will look to lessen the impact on their baskets when faced with rising prices, and while there remains a level of uncertainty, we are watching the data closely for behavioural changes like trading down and switching which often emerge during periods of economic pressure.”
Worldpanel by Numerator said that with Easter approaching, just over 40% of shoppers had picked up at least one pack of hot cross buns in the past four weeks and 30% have bought at least one Easter egg.
McKevitt continued: “While the pace of chocolate price inflation eased again – down to 8% from 9.3% last month – continued price pressures mean the average amount paid for an Easter egg was 9% higher than last year, up to £3.27. Despite this, there is no sign of shoppers choosing smaller eggs though, with an average weight of 162g, a marginal increase on last year.”
