By Ian Walker
LONDON--J Sainsbury PLC's (SBRY.LN) market share rose for the
fourth consecutive month on the trot, boosted by Paralympics
sponsorship, Brand Match and own-label investment, and was once
again the only one of the U.K.'s four big supermarkets to grow
market share in the latest 12 weeks.
However, outside the top four, discount retailers Aldi and Lidl
and up-market retailer Waitrose also increased market share in the
12 weeks, according to the latest data from Kantar, which monitors
the grocery purchasing habits of 25,000 demographically
representative U.K. households.
Sainsbury's market share rose to 16.8% in the 12 weeks ended
Oct. 28, from 16.4%, and Waitrose's market share rose to 4.7%, from
4.5%. Aldi and Lidl's joint market share rose to 5.7%, from 4.9%.
Separately, Aldi's share rose to 3% from 2.4% and Lidl's share rose
to 2.7%, from 2.5%.
Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), saw its U.K.
market share fall to 17.5%, from 17.6% compared with the same
period a year earlier. Stripping out Netto, which it bought in
April last year, Asda's market share was unchanged at 17.5%.
Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN) continues to experience pressure on its
market share, falling to 30.5% in the 12 weeks ended Oct. 28 from
31% in the 12 weeks ended Oct. 30, 2011, while Morrison's share
fell to 11.5%, from 12%.
Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@dowjones.com
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