Lidl beats Waitrose in supermarket rankings

Lidl has overtaken Waitrose as the nation’s seventh biggest supermarket. The discount retailer increased its market share to a record 5.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to August 14, according to research from Kantar Worldpanel. During the three months, Lidl sales grew by 18.9 per cent on a year ago. Sales also grew for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.

LIDL has overtaken Waitrose as the nation’s seventh biggest supermarket after proving a hit with family shoppers, new figures show.

Lidl increased its market share to a record 5.2pc in the 12 weeks to Aug 14, according to research from Kantar Worldpanel.

The discount retailer has gained 0.7 percentage points of share in the last year, taking it above Waitrose and into the UK’S top seven for the first time. During the three months, Lidl sales grew by 18.9pc on a year ago as it was boosted by families buying bigger baskets.

“Lidl is growing sales 40pc faster with families than with households without children,” said Fraser Mckevitt, the head of retailer and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel.

Sales grew at the “big four” supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – for the fifth consecutive period, but their collective grip on the market continued to slip.

“The big four account for 69.3pc of the UK market – down from 76.3pc five years ago,” said Mr Mckevitt.