Supermarket giant Tesco continued to consolidate its market share, from 28.5 per cent at the same point in 2005 to 29.4 per cent. Asda's market share remained flat at 15.7 per cent, while Sainsbury's gained slightly at 14.6 per cent.
The average till spend per buyer at Tesco over the four-week period ending November 4 was£132, compared with£111 at Asda and£107 at Sainsbury's.
ACNielsen senior manager of retailer services Mike Watkins said: 'The food retail sector is firing on all cylinders, within grocery multiples in particular, where shoppers are spending more than they did last year.'
Fresh products are driving sales and growth across all food sectors. While overall supermarket sales grew 7 per cent for the year ending November 4, sales of fresh fruit and vegetables were up 12 per cent and those of fresh meat, fish and poultry increased 9 per cent.
Watkins added: 'As British consumers' obsession with natural and healthy foods becomes a way of life instead of a fad, its not surprising that frozen food isn't the only category that is stagnant.'
The popularity of offers, such as two-for-one promotions, across all categories continues to drive sales. Supermarkets should prepare themselves for one of the healthiest and most profitable Christmases on record, according to Watkins, and Christmas promotions will intensify between retailers over the next month in both food and non-food sectors.
Waitrose is Britain's fastest-growing supermarket chain, with a 13 per cent increase in total till spend on the same period last year. Watkins said: 'Waitrose's increase is mainly driven by store acquisitions and greater consumer spend on fresh, healthy and organic foods.'
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