Tesco has released a positive Christmas and New Year trading statement, with figures showing that overall group sales increased by 7.5 per cent at constant exchange rates (6.9 per cent at actual exchange rates) through the six-week period ended 9 January 2010.
In the UK, total sales outperformed the industry as a whole, increasing by 8.3 per cent compared with the 8 per cent growth recorded in 2008, representing the strongest Christmas period for three years.
Asian sales jumped 7.8 per cent at constant exchange rates through the period, Tesco said, while US Fresh & Easy sales growth came in at 35 per cent (24 per cent at actual exchange rates.
European sales grew by 0.8 per cent, but actually fell 2.2 per cent at actual exchange rates, adding up to an overall international sales increase of 4.1 per cent.
'We've delivered a very strong performance over the Christmas and New Year period,' said Tesco chief executive Terry Leahy. 'It was a great Christmas for Tesco customers with an excellent seasonal range in store and online. The Tesco team delivered a great shopping trip for customers and I'd like to thank all of our staff and also our suppliers for their tremendous efforts, particularly during the freezing weather.'
Meanwhile, Tesco's UK market share edged up to 30.5 per cent for the 12-week period ended 27 December 2009, up from 30.4 per cent in the same period of 2008, according to new data from market analyst Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS).
The nation's second largest retailer by sales, Asda, also saw a year-on-year increase in market share to 16.9 per cent from 16.8 per cent, while Sainsbury's remained in third spot with a market share of 16.3 per cent, up from 16.1 per cent in 2008.
Morrisons saw a jump in market share to 12.3 per cent from 11.8 per cent last year, TNS said, while the combined market share of discount retailers Aldi, Netto and Lidl fell to 6.1 per cent from 6.2 per cent in 2008.
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