Grocery price inflation has fallen to its lowest level this year, but is still at the sixth-highest monthly figure recorded since 2008.
Food price inflation for the four weeks to June 11, 2023 was at 16.5%, according to the most recent Kantar grocery market data. Head of retail and consumer insight Fraser McKevitt said: “Prices rising at 16.5% isn’t something to celebrate and it’s still the sixth-highest monthly figure in the past 15 years.
“Price rises are now being compared to the increasing rate of grocery inflation seen last summer, which means that it should continue to fall in the coming months, a welcome result for everyone.”
The ongoing pressure is leaving nearly 70% of households either “extremely” or “very worried” about food and drink inflation compared with just over two thirds when asked the same question in January.
As a result, consumers are continuing to avoid full-price products in favour of buying cheaper, own-brand labels. Sales of own-brand products have grown 41% compared with last year – making it the fastest-growing part of the market every month since June 2022.
Consumers are also continuing to eat and cook at home, as Kantar’s McKevitt says. “People are thinking more and more about what they eat and how they cook as the cost-of-living crisis takes its toll on traditional behaviours.
“The most prominent change we’ve seen is that people are preparing simpler dishes with fewer ingredients. Our data shows that the public are turning away from their oven and increasingly using microwaves, which reflects the shift to simpler cooking.”
Aldi continued to be the fastest-growing grocer for the 12 weeks to June 11, 2023. Sales rose by 24.6%, pushing it to a new record market share of 10.2% – 1.2 percentage points higher than last year.
Lidl sales growth was up 23.2%, increasing its market share to 7.7% of the total market.
Morrisons sales rose 0.8% during the period, increasing its market share to 8.8% – the fourth time in a row that Morrisons has grown its market share.
Sainsbury’s and Asda sales both grew at 10% over the past 12 weeks – accounting for 14.9% and 13.7% of the total market respectively. Tesco sales grew 8.9%, hitting a market share of 27.1%.
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