Andy Bond's boast that Asda has been outperforming its rivals was backed up by TNS Worldpanel and Nielsen figures published this week. Asda was ahead of the pack with sales up 6% in the 12 weeks to 11 August, according to Nielsen. Sales growth at Sainsbury's was 5.6%, 4.9% at Tesco and just 1.3% at Morrisons. Data from TNS Worldpanel showed Asda increased sales 5%, ahead of Sainsbury's and Tesco's growth of 4%, in the 12 weeks to 12 August. Morrisons' growth was 2%. Last week, Bond said Asda had consistently outperformed the UK market this year when he revealed Asda's second quarter year-on-year sales growth was in mid-single digits. He attributed the success to the "biggest-ever" price rollback campaign and "common sense" retailing. "Our strategy of lowering prices and improving the shopping experience for our customers is continuing to pay off," said an Asda spokesman after the figures were published. "Despite a tougher economic environment and poor weather earlier in the summer, we are growing our market share and attracting even more customers." Edward Garner, director of research at TNS Worldpanel, said the latest figures displayed further signs of a consumer spending slowdown, with market growth dipping to 3% from a three-year peak of 6% for the 12 weeks ending 20 May 2007. "In part, this reflects renewed concentration on price rivalry as embodied by the Tesco 'Swingometer' ads," said Garner. "Nevertheless, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's have all exceeded the total market growth rate for the latest period and, having grown their shares, now account for nearly 65% of the grocery market."

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