Tesco, Asda and Waitrose emerged clear winners over the Christmas period, with sales growths between 10% and 20% compared to the same period last year.

Sales across the grocery channel for the four weeks to December 25, 2004 were up 9.2%. Over 99% of shoppers visited a major supermarket in December, spending an average £267 across the month.

The Grocer’s exclusive TradeTrak market share data, compiled each month by ACNielsen, shows that Asda achieved the highest spend per visit at £41, ahead of Tesco and Sainsbury at £36.

The Christmas period also helped Tesco and Asda to achieve record shares of the market, with 29% and 17.1% respectively, according to the latest data by TNS Superpanel. This was aided by seasonal sales of non-foods.


• See Saturday’s issue of The Grocer (January 15, 2005) for more details of ACNielsen’s TradeTrak data.