UK's Leading Supermarkets Lost Market Share In 1Q 2014, Report Says

UK’s four largest supermarket companies, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Asda, lost sales and market share in the first quarter of 2014, according to market research firm Kantar. Data revealed that a late Easter, lower grocery inflation, and growing strength of discount retailers Aldi and Lidl are causing problems for the supermarket giants. Aldi posted a sales growth of 35.3 percent in the 12-week period to the end of March 2014, expanding its market share to 4.6 percent, while rival discounter Lidl grew its sales by 17.2 percent. Sainsbury’s saw its market share fell 1.7 percent, with its share of the grocery market falling from 17 percent to 16.5 percent. Tesco reported sales fell 3 percent, while Morrisons said sales declined 3.8 percent.