Sales across symbol groups and independent retailers saw a small sales rise from £489m to £498m despite inflation standing at 13%, according to the latest figures from Kantar.

The increase, for year to 4 September 2023, represented a 1.8% annual growth.

Market share for symbols and independents remained largely flat, dropping from 1.6% to 1.5% year-on-year.

The news comes as Wilko stores begin closing across the UK following its administration.

Kantar’s head of retail and consumer insight Fraser McKevitt said: “Tesco, Aldi and the bargain stores, such as Poundland, B&M and Home Bargains, have been the biggest winners of customers switching spend away from Wilko”.

Ex-Wilko workers offered jobs by symbol groups and wholesalers

Across all grocers, grocery sales increased by 7.4% year-on-year, while grocery price inflation has fallen to its lowest level in more than 12 months at 12.2% for the four weeks to 3 September 2023.

Co-op sales were found to have increased by 2.5% compared to a year ago.

Consumers are gravitating towards everyday low value products as opposed to promotions, with this concept having ‘caught on’ in the wider market.

Only 26% are spending on deals, compared to 38% 10 years ago. These results align with Kantar’s data showing that own-label sales have seen a boost.

McKevitt said: “Supermarket lines now make up over half of everything we buy, up from 48% in August 2013. This is equivalent to a £3bn shift in sales away from brands.”

This news is especially beneficial for discounters Aldi and Lidl, with the former making “some of the biggest market share gains over the past 12 months”, yet growth rates for both are slowing.

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