Aldi tops supermarket sales league table with 12% growth over scorching summer

Co-op also performed well with its sales rising 7.1%

Aldi beat rival Lidl into second place with 9.1 per cent growth, according to Nielsen data (PA)

Aldi grew sales faster than any other UK supermarket over the last quarter as consumers slowly returned to more normal levels of spending after a big surge triggered by a summer heatwave and the World Cup.

The German discount chain's sales jumped 12.5 per cent, beating Lidl into second place with 9.1 per cent growth, according to Nielsen data.

The Co-op also performed well with its sales rising 7.1 per cent in the 12 weeks to 8 September.

Across the sector, sales volumes grew 1.4 per cent over the last 12 weeks. The latest UK consumer confidence figures also show that, whilst 55 per cent of consumers are concerned about their personal finances, 50% still believe that now is a good time to spend.

Iceland grew sales 6.1 per cent, while among the big four chains, Asda and Morrisons maintained strong performance at 3.9 oer cent and 2.8% respectively. Market leader Tesco recorded 2.5 per cent growth.

Mike Watkins, Nielsen’s UK head of retailer insight, said: “While there is still pressure on the consumer wallet, we continued to see shoppers spend freely on indulgences, celebrations and events up until the end of August. The hot summer has been a windfall for most food retailers.

"However, with summer turning to autumn in the last couple of weeks, sales growths have mellowed. Even so, shoppers are maintaining their grocery spend and opting instead to make savings on overall household expenditure, including clothing and homewares.

“The exceptional summer has given the industry some much-needed momentum and with a recent small uptick in inflation, the improved growth we’ve seen in the first half of the year are likely to continue for the second half, even if the last few weeks have seen a pause for breath.