Waitrose has suffered from negative year-on-year growth for the first time in recent years, slipping 0.7 per cent in the 12 weeks to November 30.

According to the latest TNS Worldpanel grocery market shares figures, Tesco suffered a share drop from 31.5 per cent to 30.9 per cent with a growth rate of just 4.3 per cent.

Total market growth for the grocery sector was 6.2 per cent, lower than the measure of inflation, as shoppers continue to trade down in terms of product mix and where they shop.

Sainsbury’s matched the market growth rate and had no change in its market share of 16 per cent.

The value grocers achieved strong growth for the period with Asda up 7.8 per cent and Morrisons up 10.3 per cent. Aldi continued to benefit from the credit crunch reaching a record market share of 3.1 per cent with year-on-year growth of 25.4 per cent.

Grocery price inflation also dropped to 8.5 per cent for the period.