Parents packing their kids’ lunchboxes for the return to school at the end of August has offered a boost to retailers, according to data from Kantar.
And the summer of sport also got people in the north into a party mood, with booze sales soaring too.
In the year to September 1, some £4.25 billion passed through the tills in supermarkets in the north, up £194.5 million (or 4.8%) compared to last year.
Take-home grocery sales grew as shoppers marginally increased their volume per trip, contributing a combined £21.6 million to overall performance.
September marked a 12th consecutive month of falling grocery inflation, though Kantar said that the average annual grocery bill will rise by £330 from £5,600 to £5,930 if consumers don’t change their shopping habits and opt for own-brand.
Emer Healy, business development director at Kantar, said: “Brands are also regaining market share this period, growing by 0.7% year-on-year, and now holding 54.6% of the value market share, with an additional £135 million in shopper spending year-on-year.
“Own-label products remain important within retailer ranges, growing in value by 3.8% year-on-year, although lagging behind the overall market, which is up by 4.8%.”
She added: “Despite the ongoing pressures on consumers, the latest 12 weeks saw people getting into the party spirit to celebrate the summer of sport. Cider grew in popularity, increasing by 4.6%, while accompaniments, including savoury snacks, were up by £3.3 million.
“And despite the unpredictable summer weather, it didn’t dampen the BBQs, with chilled burgers and grills growing by 12.1% in value sales, and fresh sausages increasing by 6.3%.”
Tesco maintains its position at the top of the table as Northern Ireland’s largest grocer with a 35.6% market share, followed bySainsbury’s (16.8%), Asda (16.3%) and Lidl (9.1%).
