Asda leapfrogs Sainsbury's into number two slot

Asda has overtaken Sainsbury's to take second place in the food hierarchy behind Tesco.

Data for the four weeks to July 20, from respected market analyst TNS, gives Asda a market share of 17 per cent, compared to 16.2 per cent for Sainsbury's.

For the same four-week period last year, Sainsbury's held a 17.1 per cent share and Asda 16.1 per cent.

The reversal, predicted by Retail Week last autumn, means Sainsbury's has fallen from the number one supermarket to number three in the past eight years.

The figures include non-food, a strength of Asda.

- Rivals erode share: page 3.