Aldi and Lidl winners as families look for bargains

SALES at Aldi and Lidl are rising at their fastest rate in more than two years as families try to protect themselves against price rises.

The discount grocers saw takings up 19.2 per cent over the last 12 weeks compared to the same period a year ago.

This is the best rate since January 2015 – and gives the German chains a combined record market share of 12 per cent.

Meanwhile Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons saw growth of just 1.6 per cent.

Six in ten shoppers have visited either Aldi or Lidl in recent weeks on the back of soaring food prices following two years of falls. Grocery inflation is now outstripping wage increases at 2.9 per cent, according to retail analysts at Kantar Worldpanel.

Aldi and Lidl have won multiple awards for their own label products, which are as much as 4 per cent cheaper than other brands.

Kantar’s Chris Hayward said: ‘Consumers are starting to feel the pinch as prices continue to rise, with the average household spending an additional £27 on groceries during the past 12 weeks ... If inflation continues at its current rate over the course of a year, that would mean an extra £119.’