M&S has now become the leading grocery retailer for Middle England, surpassing Waitrose outside the festive season.
- M&S achieved a significant market share increase to 4.03%, while Waitrose’s share dropped to 3.91%.
- The unpublished data from Kantar highlights a noteworthy 11% year-on-year sales increase for M&S.
- This surge in sales is attributed to strong performances in produce, meat, and dairy, alongside innovative strategies.
- M&S also reports a boost in profits, driven by its food division’s growth of 8.1%.
M&S has officially taken the lead as Middle England’s preferred grocer, surpassing Waitrose for the first time outside the festive rush. According to the latest unpublished figures from Kantar, M&S’s market share has risen to 4.03%, marking an increase from last year’s 3.76%. Meanwhile, Waitrose experienced a decline, slipping from 4.02% in the previous year to 3.91%.
This change in positions is underscored by M&S’s impressive 11% year-on-year boost in sales, which stands out as the strongest growth among its competitors. While Lidl, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco also saw increases, their figures, such as Lidl’s 6.9%, did not match M&S’s remarkable performance. Waitrose, in contrast, saw only a 1% rise, lagging behind several major players except Co-op and Asda.
Analysts interpret the data as a clear indication of M&S’s growing momentum. This period of success reflects strategic efforts, such as a focus on innovation and improving value perception. M&S attributes its grocery growth to robust gains in its produce, meat, and dairy categories, combined with strategic initiatives designed to enhance consumer trust.
M&S has reported a significant increase in profits, with figures indicating a 17.2% rise in pre-tax profit to £407.8 million. The food division, a key growth area, contributed with an 8.1% rise in sales and a slight increase of 0.5% in adjusted operating profit. These financial outcomes highlight the ongoing success of M&S’s expansion and innovation strategies.
M&S’s strategic innovations have successfully positioned it as a new leader in Middle England’s grocery market ahead of the festive season.
