Discount stores’ continued growth

Aldi and Lidl are planning to open new stores at five times the rate of the “big four” supermarkets, data has revealed.

The fast-growing discount supermarkets have between them lodged over 170 planning applications for new UK outlets, while Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s have only filed 29, according to figures compiled by construction industry data firm, Barbour ABI. Specialist retail analysts have laid bare the widening gulf as the traditional supermarkets struggle with food price deflation, while Aldi and Lidl work to attract more middle-class buyers.

Nielsen’s research shows Aldi and Lidl now command more than a tenth of the grocery market, rising from 8.8% to 11% in the last 12 months to October.

Over the same period, the big four saw their combined share slide from 71.7% to 69.6% and their sales either fell or remained flat when compared with the same time last year, while Aldi’s and Lidl’s sales rocketed 27.6% and 23.3% respectively.

Aldi and Lidl are planning to open 170 new stores