Britons spent a record-breaking £10.9BILLION on groceries in November as the industry enjoyed its best ever month of sales – with six million households shopping online
- Kantar data showed visits to stores hit its highest level since start of pandemic
- More than six million households shopped at a grocer online in another record
- UK grocery sales overall rose 11.3% to £30.8bn over 12 weeks to November 29
Britons spent a record-breaking £10.9 billion on groceries in November as the industry enjoyed its best ever month of sales.
Figures were up 11.3 per cent to £30.8 billion in the 12 weeks to November 29, and up 13.9 per cent year-on-year in the last four of those weeks, according to market researcher Kantar.
It came as Britain was in the midst of the second national lockdown, which forced the closure of pubs and restaurants and resulted in more eating and drinking at home.
Kantar data shows how Tesco had the largest market share in the 12 weeks to November 29, with 27 per cent, though this was down on last year as rivals enjoyed booming sales
Kantar also forecast spend to be close to £12bn in December, around £1.5bn more than during the same month last year.
Internet shopping also reached another record high, with more than six million households shopping at a grocer online.
‘November as a whole saw shopper frequency hit its highest level since the beginning of the pandemic, suggesting more confidence among people going into stores,’ said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar.
Many people have begun the countdown to Christmas already, with sales of turkeys up by 36 per cent and alcohol spend 33 per cent higher than in the same four weeks last year, McKevitt said.
Some 238 per cent more was spent on Christmas lights in the month to November 15, but mince pie sales are down by eight per cent, which bosses said reflected fewer opportunities to share a treat with friends and colleagues.
Of Britain’s big four supermarket groups, No. 4 player Morrisons again outperformed rivals over the 12 week period with sales growth of 13.7 per cent.
Second-ranked Sainsbury’s saw growth of 10.8 per cent, with market leader Tesco on 10.4 per cent. Walmart owned Asda was again the laggard with growth of 7.7 per cent.
Britons spent a record-breaking £10.9 billion on groceries in November as the industry enjoyed its best ever month of sales
The figures showed Tesco raked in more than £8.3bn, Sainsbury’s £4.8bn, Asda £4.4bn and Morrisons £3.2bn.
Aldi, Coop, Lidl, Waitrose, Iceland and Ocado all also enjoyed substantial rises in sales during the period.
After the data was published, shares in Morrisons were up 1.5 per cent just after 9am today, with Sainsbury’s up 0.9 per cent and Tesco up 0.4 per cent.
Kantar said grocery inflation was 1.4% for the 12-week period. Prices are rising fastest in markets such as canned colas, pork and sausages while falling in vegetables, bread and beef.