TSCDY Tesco PLC (PK)

By Ian Walker

LONDON--Tesco PLC's (TSCO.LN) market share and sales rose for the third consecutive period as the industry gears up for the key holiday trading period.

For the 12 weeks ended Dec. 4 Tesco's market share rose to 28.3%, from 28% for the comparable 12 weeks, while sales rose 1.6% to 7.42 billion pounds ($9.4 billion).

German discount grocers Aldi and Lidl also increased sales and market share, while upmarket grocer Waitrose's share was static despite sales rising in the latest 12 months, Kantar Worldpanel said. Kantar monitors the grocery purchasing habits of 25,000 demographically representative households in the U.K.

Aldi and Lidl's joint market share rose to 10.8% in the 12 weeks ended Dec. 4, up from 10% in the comparable 12 weeks ended Dec. 6, 2015. Separately, Aldi's market share rose to 6.2% in the 12 weeks, from 5.6% for the comparable period in 2015. Lidl's market share rose to 4.6%, from 4.4% in the 12 weeks ended Dec. 6, 2015.

Aldi's sales in the 12 weeks grew 10% to GBP1.62 billion, while Lidl's sales rose 5.7% to GBP1.21 billion.

Sainsbury PLC's (SBRY.LN) market share in the 12 weeks ended Dec. 4 fell to 16.5%, from 16.7%, while sales fell 0.6% to GBP4.33 billion.

Asda, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), saw its market share fall to 15.3%, from 16.2% for the comparable 12 weeks, with sales 4.7% lower at GBP4.01 billion.

Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC's (MRW.LN) market share fell to 10.8%, from 11%, while sales were 1.4% lower at GBP2.83 billion

Waitrose' market share was unchanged at 5.1% in the 12 weeks ended Dec. 4, although sales climbed 1.1% to GBP1.34 billion.

Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 13, 2016 03:35 ET (08:35 GMT)

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