Grocery market suffers first dip

IRELAND’S grocery market has contracted for the first time since August 2010, as prices continue to rise and discounters Aldi and Lidl continue to make inroads.

The latest grocery market figures from Kantar Worldpanel in Ireland, show that the grocery market has fallen in value by 0.5% when compared to the same period last year. Grocery inflation is at 2.5% for the 12-weeks ending September 4, down from 4.4% in the previous period.

However, the shrinking market is posing no obstacle to Aldi and Lidl, which continue to record significant quarterly gains, with Aldi increasing its market share by 25% and Lidl up by 6.5%.