Breakfast briefing: Retail news on Sainsbury's, Asda and Scottish retail sales

Sainsbury’s sales beat Asda for first time in decade at Christmas

According to Kantar Worldpanel’s industry data, Sainsbury’s sales overtook Asda for the first time in a decade over the Christmas period, after being the only major supermarket among the UK’s big four to resist the pressure from discounters Aldi and Lidl and upmarket players Waitrose and M&S. Sainsbury’s, led by chief executive Justin King, has reclaimed its position as the number two grocery retailer behind Tesco, Reuters reported. In the 12 weeks to January 5, Sainsbury’s market share remained unchanged at 17.1% from a year ago, while Asda’s share dipped to that level from 17.5%. Tesco’s market share slumped to 29.6% from 30.4%.

For the 12-week period, Sainsbury’s recorded 3.1% sales increase, while Asda’s sales grew 0.8%. Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose saw sales growth of 29.4%, 17.5% and 6.4% respectively. Market leader Tesco’s 12-week sales remained little changed, while Morrisons’ declined 1%.

Scottish retail sales values down 1.1% in December 

According to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s latest monthly survey, the retail sales value in Scotland dipped 1.1% on a year ago in the key trading month of December. The year-on-year movement in the value of retail sales in December was the worst since November 2012, Herald Scotland reported.

The SRC said food sales in Scotland were weak in December. The food sales value last month was down 0.3% on December 2012. Taking into account annual food price inflation in December, Scottish food sales last month slumped 2% year-on-year in volume terms. Non-food sales values in Scotland in December plunged 1.7% on the same month of 2012.

Shoe shop retailer Carl Scarpa to exit examinership later in January

Upscale women’s shoe shops chain Carl Scarpa is to exit examinership later in January after raising €590,000 in fresh funds, The Irish Times reported. The High Court has approved a rescue plan for CS Calzature and Carl Scarpa (Grafton Street), the trading firms behind the chain, who will exit court protection on January 29.

As part of the rescue plan, two of the chain’s 21 stores will shut down, with 68 of the 80 staff employed by the firm set to keep their jobs. As part of the rescue approved by the court, Carl Scarpa’s directors Keith and Stephen Moffitt will invest roughly €240,000 in the company. Ulster Bank will offer a further debt facility of about €147,000, while an unnamed private investor will invest about €200,000.