Supermarket sales lifted by rising prices and early Christmas shopping

Shoppers are already stocking up on mince pies

Grocery sales have risen again with higher prices and early Christmas shopping helping the sector chalk up its 17th consecutive quarter of growth.

Food sales rose 3.1pc in the 12 weeks to October 8, boosted in part by ongoing inflation. Grocery prices were 3.2pc higher during quarter, with UK inflation expected to hit 3pc in figures released later today.

All of the 'big four' grocers - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda - recorded sales growth during the period, continuing a strong run that started in April, according data from Kantar Worldpanel. 

UK supermarkets sweep up 17 months of consecutive growth... read more at https://t.co/AzraMoui9t@K_Worldpanel#GroceryMarketSharepic.twitter.com/BbX3SNnzMn

— Kantar (@Kantar) October 17, 2017

But all four saw a small decline in market share, as fast-growing discount retailers Aldi and Lidl continued to make up ground.

Aldi and Lidl together added an additional £390m in sales during the quarter, accounting for half of the entire market’s overall growth in the 12 weeks, Kantar said.

Of the big chains, only the Co-op recorded a sales fall, with turnover slipping 2.5pc during the period.

Kantar also reported that shoppers were stocking up for Christmas early. In the last four week, sales of chocolate boxes toped £69m, mince pies racked up £4m in sales, the shoppers spent £1.1m on Christmas puddings.