The Irish grocery market enjoyed its strongest Christmas period — in sales terms — for four years, last month, with total combined sales rising by 1.1% on a year-on-year basis.

Tesco is showing early signs of a recovery in the Irish market, with new figures showing a third consecutive quarter of an easing in its sales declines.

Irish shoppers are still counting the pennies and concerned about over-reaching following the recession, according to new research.