Grocery sales have grown by 5 per cent year on year in the 12 weeks to October 7, according to the TNS Worldpanel grocery market share figures.

TNS Worldpanel director of research Edward Garner said the grocery sector is putting the financial gloom of recent weeks behind it and returning to historical growth trends.

Tesco has outperformed the market with a 6 per cent growth and has lifted its share from 31.4 per cent a year ago to 31.8 per cent, equalling its all-time record, which was seen earlier this year.

However, intense competition in the grocery market continues, with both Asda and Sainsbury also lifting their shares in the past year, the former from 16.6 per cent to 16.8 per cent and the latter from 15.7 per cent to 15.8 per cent.

Morrisons has seen a positive growth of 3 per cent for the 12-week period but this is behind the market, hence a small market share loss from 11.1 per cent to 10.9 per cent.

Garner said: “Co-ops and independents both show positive sales growth, which is encouraging, but this needs to increase to total market levels if share is not to be eroded.”

Aldi, Lidl and Netto performed strongly, although the total discounter share, including Kwik Save, has hardly changed over the last year and a half.