There was further evidence that the two ends of the grocery market are where the action is with the release of new figures showing strong sales for Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl.
Waitrose was the big winner in the latest Kantar Worldpanel figures, securing a record 5.2 per cent market share on the back of 6.8 per cent growth in the past year. The company has now grown its sales every month since March 2009.
At the other end of the price spectrum, Aldi's growth might have slowed slightly, but it still recorded a 27 per cent increase versus last year, leaving it with a 4.8 per cent market share.
Fellow German discounter Lidl's share hit 3.5 per cent after an 18 per cent sales rise.
“We are seeing clear polarisation of the market with both the premium and discount ends of the market gaining share, while the mainstream grocers continue to be squeezed in the middle,' said Kantar's head of retail and consumer insight, Fraser McKevitt.
Among the big four, Asda continued its form by growing sales ahead of the market - up 1 per cent over the year, compared to like-for-like overall market decline of 0.2 per cent - and boosting its share to 17.3 per cent.
All eyes are on Tesco after its recent struggles. Its sales show a 3.6 per cent decrease, but that at least represents its best figure since June.
Both Sainsbury's and Morrisons' sales slipped, by 3.1 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively.
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