Aldi enjoys best-ever Christmas as shoppers defect from rivals
The chain said it shifted more than 17 million bottles of wine and fizz in December as well as nearly 50 million mince pies.
Monday 7 January 2019 11:10, UK
Discount supermarket Aldi says it has enjoyed its best-ever Christmas in the UK as sales rose to almost 拢1bn in December.
The German-owned retailer said it welcomed an "influx of festive shoppers" switching from rivals and that it saw a surge in demand for its premium ranges.
Aldi said it sold more than 17 million bottles of wine, champagne and prosecco during December as well as nearly 50 million mince pies and almost 100 million sprouts.
The retailer, which has been expanding rapidly, did not disclose like-for-like sales numbers - a standard industry indicator that looks at growth in stores that have been open for a year or more - though a spokesman did say they were "positive".
It said the week beginning 17 December was its busiest ever in the UK, with sales more than 10% higher than the previous year.
Aldi UK chief executive Giles Hurley said: "The standout performance was in our Specially Selected brand where shoppers treated themselves to premium products for a fraction of the price they would have paid elsewhere for similar quality products."
The chain opened more than 65 new UK outlets during 2018, taking its total network to 827 by the end of the year. It aims to grow to 1,200 by the end of 2025.
Aldi, together with Lidl, has transformed the UK grocery sector and gnawed away at the market share of the bigger players, forcing them to react by investing in price cuts and in Tesco's case launching a new discount chain of its own earlier this year.
Aldi has doubled its market share since 2010 to 7.6% and is the UK's fifth-biggest supermarket, according to recent industry data.
Mr Hurley said: "We begin the New Year with great momentum as the UK's fastest-growing supermarket and on the back of record Christmas sales."
Thomas Brereton, retail analyst at GlobalData, said: "Although the headline numbers shout success, the tide may be slowly turning on Aldi's triumphant march of growth."
He pointed out that the sales growth figure published by the retailer only covered one week and said this "hints at slightly weaker growth throughout the rest of the month"
Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury's are set to deliver Christmas trading updates this week.
Morrisons on Monday said it was cutting prices on 935 products, including tinned tomatoes and cereals, by an average of 20%.
Meanwhile number two supermarket Sainsbury's is in the process of a proposed merger with Asda, currently being scrutinised by the competition regulator.