Asda loses out on UK grocery share as Lidl hits record 8.4%
Key Points
- Asda's UK grocery sales fell 2.4% in the four weeks to 19 April 2026, a sharp acceleration from the 0.9% decline recorded in March, dragging its market share down to 11.6% from 12.2% a year earlier.
- Lidl reached a record 8.4% market share with sales up 8.8% over 12 weeks, adding more than half a million new shoppers and matching Morrisons in joint-fifth place for the second consecutive month.
- Tesco extended its lead as Britain's largest grocer to 28.1% with sales up 4.3%, while Sainsbury's was the fastest-growing big four retailer at 4.5% sales growth, lifting its share to 15.5%.
- Like-for-like grocery inflation fell to 3.8%, the lowest level since April 2025, but shoppers shifted spending toward deals with promoted item sales up 7.8% year on year while full-price spending fell 0.2%.
- Aldi underperformed the 2.9% market growth at just 1.2% sales growth, losing 0.2 share points, signalling that Lidl has now taken over from Aldi as the dominant discounter momentum story.
Asda’s UK grocery sales fell 2.4% in the four weeks to 19 April 2026, accelerating from a 0.9% decline in March, while Lidl reached a record 8.4% market share with sales up 8.8% over 12 weeks, according to Worldpanel by Numerator data published on Tuesday (28 April).
The supermarket sector grew 2.9% over the 12-week period, leaving Asda’s share at 11.6% against 12.2% a year earlier, while Lidl matched Morrisons in joint-fifth place for the second consecutive month and added more than half a million new shoppers, more shoppers than any other grocer.
Like-for-like grocery inflation fell to 3.8%, the lowest level since April 2025, though shoppers continued to hunt for deals amid concerns about the conflict in the Middle East.
Spending on promoted items rose 7.8% year on year over the four-week period, while spending on full-price goods fell 0.2%, indicating that households are funnelling an increasing share of their grocery budgets toward offers rather than absorbing list prices.
Take-home grocery sales rose just 0.9% in the four weeks to 19 April compared with the same period a year earlier.
Tesco strengthened its position as Britain’s largest grocer, with sales up 4.3% taking its share to 28.1% from 27.7% a year ago.
Sainsbury’s was the fastest-growing big four retailer with sales up 4.5%, lifting its share to 15.5% from 15.3%, while Morrisons grew sales by just 1.1% and saw its share slip from 8.5% to 8.4%, level with Lidl.
Ocado was the fastest-growing grocer outright at 11.3%, and Waitrose held steady at 4.6% share with the fastest spend-per-trip growth of any retailer.
Incredible Lidl growth
Lidl’s record share extends a 34-month run as the UK’s fastest-growing bricks and mortar supermarket, while Aldi’s sales rose just 1.2% over 12 weeks, well behind the 2.9% market growth, leaving its share down from 10.8% to 10.6%.
The discounter dynamic has shifted, with Lidl now driving the category gains that Aldi led for most of the cost-of-living crisis.
Easter spending held firm despite consumer concerns, with almost 9% of households buying a fresh lamb joint in Easter week.
| Retailer | Market share | Year-on-year share change | Sales growth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 28.1% | +0.4 pts | +4.3% | Largest grocer, share at multi-year high |
| Sainsbury’s | 15.5% | +0.2 pts | +4.5% | Fastest-growing big four retailer |
| Asda | 11.6% | -0.6 pts | -2.4% in latest 4 weeks | Decline accelerating from 0.9% in March |
| Aldi | 10.6% | -0.2 pts | +1.2% | Underperforming the 2.9% market average |
| Lidl | 8.4% | +0.4 pts | +8.8% | Record share, 34th month as fastest-growing bricks and mortar grocer |
| Morrisons | 8.4% | -0.1 pts | +1.1% | Now level with Lidl for second straight month |
| Co-op | 5.1% | n/a | n/a | Convenience-led estate |
| Waitrose | 4.6% | flat | +3.8% | Fastest spend-per-trip growth |
| Iceland | 2.3% | flat | +2.1% | Frozen specialist |
| Ocado | n/a (grocer table) | n/a | +11.3% | Fastest-growing grocer outright |
Source: Worldpanel by Numerator, published 28 April 2026.
Asda’s trajectory remains the standout concern. The supermarket has now posted two consecutive months of accelerating sales declines, with the four-week figure deteriorating from minus 0.9% in March to minus 2.4% in April.
Its 0.6 point share loss over the year is the largest decline of any major UK grocer and reverses the recovery momentum it showed in mid-2025.
Private equity owner TDR Capital has been investing in price cuts and store refurbishments, but the latest figures suggest those efforts are not yet translating into till-level recovery.
