Marks & Spencer Share News (MKS)

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UK grocery inflation jumps to 4.1% in 4 weeks to May 18
  
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UK grocery sales up 4.4%
  
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Tesco, discounters, Ocado perform well
  
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Asda remains industry laggard but improving
  
 
(Adds detail on supermarkets' sales paragraphs 7-10, table) 
LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - British grocery price inflation jumped to 4.1% for the four weeks to May 18, its 
highest level since February last year, adding to pressure on 
consumers already facing higher household bills, data from 
market researcher Kantar showed on Wednesday. 
The figure compared to grocery inflation of 3.8% in last month's report and reflects the cost of supermarkets' higher 
payroll taxes and an increase in the national minimum wage, 
which came into effect in April. 
Industry researcher the Institute of Grocery 
Distribution has forecast that food inflation could hit nearly 
5% this year. 
 
Grocery sales over the four weeks, meanwhile, rose 4.4% 
year-on-year. 
 
"Households have been adapting their buying habits to manage budgets for some time, but we typically see changes in behaviour 
once inflation tips beyond the 3% to 4% point as people notice 
the impact on their wallets more," said Fraser McKevitt, head of 
retail and consumer insight at Kantar. 
Kantar said prices were rising fastest in chocolate 
confectionery, suncare and butters and spreads and were falling 
fastest in pet food and household paper products. 
 
Market leader Tesco continued its 
strong sales run
with growth of 5.9% year-on-year over the 12 weeks to May 18. Number two player 
Sainsbury's
sales were up 4.7%, Kantar's data showed.  
Number three Asda remained the industry 
laggard
with sales down 3.2% and a 90 basis points loss of market share over the year. However, its performance was its best since 
May last year. 
 
Discounters Aldi and Lidl achieved their strongest 
combined growth since January 2024 at 8.4%, while online 
supermarket Ocado marked a full year as Britain’s 
fastest growing grocer, with sales up 14.9%. 
 
Despite enduring a 
cyberattack
, Marks & Spencer's sales rose by 12.3%, Kantar said. 
 
 
 
UK supermarkets' market share and sales growth (%) 
Market share  Market       % change in 
12 wks to 18  share 12     sales 
May 2025      wks to May   (yr-on-yr) 
19 2024 
Tesco 
28.0          27.6         5.9 
 
Sainsbury's 
15.1          15.1         4.7 
 
Asda 
12.1          13.0         -3.2 
 
Aldi 
11.1          10.8         6.7 
 
Morrisons 
8.4           8.6          1.1 
 
Lidl 
8.1           7.6          10.9 
 
Co-operative 
5.3           5.4          0.6 
 
Waitrose 
4.6           4.6          4.0 
 
Iceland 
2.2           2.3          1.9 
 
Ocado 
1.9           1.7          14.9