Back to school spending helped drive take-home grocery sales up by 6.1% in the four weeks to 7 September 2025, according to the latest data from Worldpanel by Numerator. With many parents preparing for the new term, store visits increased by 0.7%, although shoppers picked up fewer packs per trip. Overall, shoppers spent an additional €68.8 million on groceries compared with the same period last year.

Grocery price inflation now stands at 6.3% over the latest 12-week period, up from 5.4% in the previous 12 weeks, yet Irish shoppers have continued to enjoy everything summer has to offer before the arrival of winter.

According to Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Worldpanel by Numerator: “As the new school term began in early September, we saw spending on typical lunchbox staples increase across many households with children. Over the latest four-week period, shoppers spent an additional €5.3 million on sweet bakery items, fresh fruit, breakfast cereals and porridge, savoury snacks and yoghurt. Convenience is also a priority, with an extra €1.6 million spent on fresh and frozen ready meals and cooking sauces compared with last year.”

Households with children also made greater use of online shopping, spending an additional €6.6 million compared with the previous month. They also added €1.2 million more to their baskets on sliced meats, yoghurts, breakfast cereals and biscuits as they stocked up for school lunches.

Shoppers took advantage of promotions too, spending €758 million on promotional lines during the latest 12-week period, an increase of 8.2% on the previous year. Promotional spending now makes up 21.5% of all grocery sales. Key categories driving this growth included laundry, water, squash and smoothies, all of which performed ahead of the total market for promotional lines.

Autumn brings big boost for brands

While brands have grown behind the total market (+5.8%) with growth slowing to 3.9% in the last 12-week period, Irish shoppers still spent an additional €62.6 million on branded products.

Own label saw stronger growth at 6.6%, with premium own label the standout performer, up 16.2%. Shoppers spent nearly €19.4 million extra on these ranges. Premium own label lines saw a boost in confectionery (+18.4%), soft drinks (+24.8%) and alcohol (+36%) over the last 12 weeks.

Brands currently hold 47.2% value share of the total market, while own label holds 46.9% value share.

Retailer and channel performance

Online continued to gain ground, with sales rising 6.3% year on year to take 5.8% value share of the market. Shoppers spent an additional €12 million online during the period, helped by an influx of new customers who contributed €7.7 million to overall performance. Nearly 18% of Irish households bought their groceries online during this time.

Dunnes holds 23.9% market share, up on the last 12-week period, with slowing sales growth of 6.1% year-on-year.

Tesco holds 23.7% of the market, with value growth of 6.4% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to stores by 1.3% and, together with new shoppers, contributed an additional €23.7 million to the grocer’s overall performance.

SuperValu holds 19.5% of the market with growth of 4.9%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 24.7 trips over the latest 12 weeks, up 9.6% year-on-year. The increase in shopping trips contributed an additional €61.6 million to its performance.

Lidl holds 14.2% of the market with growth of 9.5%, the fastest growth among all retailers. Lidl also saw shoppers pick up more volume in store, up 2.5%, contributing an additional €11.5 million to overall performance.

Aldi holds 11.6% market share, up 4.7%. Increased store trips and new shoppers drove an additional €16.1 million in sales.

Key takeaways:

• Grocery price inflation now stands at 6.3% over the latest 12-week period, up from 5.4% in the previous 12 weeks, yet Irish shoppers have continued to enjoy everything summer has to offer before the arrival of winter.
• Over the latest four-week period, shoppers spent an additional €5.3 million on sweet bakery items, fresh fruit, breakfast cereals and porridge, savoury snacks and yoghurt. Convenience is also a priority, with an extra €1.6 million spent on fresh and frozen ready meals and cooking sauces compared with last year.
• Households with children also made greater use of online shopping, spending an additional €6.6 million compared with the previous month.
• Shoppers took advantage of promotions too, spending €758 million on promotional lines during the latest 12-week period, an increase of 8.2% on the previous year. Promotional spending now makes up 21.5% of all grocery sales.
• Nearly 18% of Irish households bought their groceries online during this time.

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Grocery price inflation currently stands at 5.3% compared to the same 12-week end period last year. Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar, comments: “The rise in average prices is clearly affecting both sales performance and shopper behaviour. As grocery bills rise alongside other household expenses, Irish consumers are cautious with their spending and actively seek out promotions to secure the best value.”

Summer celebrations kick off early

“An unusually sunny kick-off to the summer in Ireland alongside the June bank holiday was a cause for celebration for many people,” according to Kantar’s Emer Healy.

“Thanks to the warmer weather, we saw shoppers picking up more suncream compared to the same time last year (+6%) but also looking for ways to cool down and freshen up. Shoppers spent a combined additional €11.6 million on prepared fresh fruit, water and dilutes, smoothies and juices. Convenience was also a priority as the sun shone with an additional €2.4 million spent on chilled ready meals.”

Shoppers spent €802 million on promotional lines during the latest 12-week period, a 15.7% increase compared to the previous year. Key categories saw significant growth, including table sauces, fabs and mixers, carbonates, frozen confectionery, beer and cider, all growing ahead of the total market for promotional lines.

Brands and own label both performed strongly, growing at 6.2%. Shoppers spent an additional €197m on these ranges versus last year.

Own label overtakes brands in value share of the total market at 47.3%, compared to brands with a 47.1% value share. Premium own label experienced double-digit growth (+15.3%) over the 12 weeks, outperforming the total market (+6.9%) and both brands and total own label. This growth has resulted in a 4.1% value share for premium own label compared to 3.8% last year. Retailers must continue to find a balance between delivering compelling value and navigating rising operational costs.

Retailer and channel performance

Total online holds 5.9% value share of the market and sees sales rising by 9.1% year-on-year, with shoppers spending an additional €17.5 million through this channel. Over the latest 12-week period, shoppers purchased their groceries more often online, up by 8.9%, contributing €16.9 million to its overall performance.

Over the latest 12 weeks, Dunnes holds 23.6% market share, with sales growth of 8% year-on-year. Dunnes shoppers returned to store more often, up 5.6% which contributed a combined €43.9 million to their overall performance.

Tesco holds 23.3% of the market, with value growth of 7.7% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to store by 4.4%, which contributed €34.1 million to overall performance.

SuperValu holds 20.2% of the market with growth of 5.6%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 25 trips over the latest 12 weeks, this is the highest shopping trips seen since July 2023. This increase in the number of shopping trips contributed an additional €51.7 million to its performance.

Lidl holds 14% market share, up 8.5%. Lidl recruited new shoppers in-store, while encouraging consumers to make larger trips, resulting in an additional €13 million in sales. Aldi holds 11.8% market share, up 6.4%. Increased store trips and new shoppers drove an additional €26.9 million in sales.

Inflation

Grocery price inflation currently stands at 5.3% compared to the same 12-week end period last year.

*This figure is based on over 30,000 identical products compared year-on-year in the proportions purchased by Irish shoppers and therefore represents the most authoritative figure currently available. It is a ‘pure’ inflation measure in that shopping behaviour is held constant between the two comparison periods – shoppers are likely to achieve a lower personal inflation rate if they trade down or seek out more offers.

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Warmer weather, longer days and time spent outdoors is driving consumer spending, according to the latest grocery data from Kantar. Take-home value sales in Ireland over the four weeks to 18 May 2025 increased by 6.6% compared to the same period last year. During May, shoppers were in-store an average of 22.3 times, contributing an additional €17 million to the market’s overall performance.

Grocery price inflation currently stands at 4.96% compared to the same 12-week period last year. Inflation has increased 2.4 percentage points since the same time last year.

“Rising prices are influencing both sales performance and consumer behaviour,” according to Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar. “Although households have been adjusting their spending for some time now, what we’re seeing is a clear ‘tipping point’ when inflation goes above 3% to 4%. This is when shoppers really start to feel it in their wallets, and they change their behaviour.

“As a result, supermarkets are having to be more creative in the way they attract shoppers in-store and online – offering quality products at the right price.”

Shoppers spent an additional €124 million on promotional lines over the last 12 weeks compared to the same period last year, according to Kantar, which recorded the highest share of packs on promotion over 22%; the highest level since May 2021. While the total promotional market grew by 17.6%, key categories including table sauces, skin care, deodorant, soft drinks, frozen confectionery and chocolate all grew ahead of this with double digit growth.

Despite the added pressure on household budgets, Irish shoppers continue to prioritise quality. This is evident with both brands and own label performing strongly – up 5.6% and 5.2% respectively – with shoppers spending an additional €174m on these ranges compared to last year.

Brands still hold a higher value share of the total market at 47.4%, compared to own label with 47.1% value share. With double digit growth (+12.6%) over the 12 weeks, premium own label continues to grow faster than the market as a whole (+6.1%). Premium own label currently holds 4.1% value share of the total market compared to 3.9% last year.

Shoppers bring out the BBQ as temperatures rise

“Irish shoppers enjoyed a warm and sunny start to May,” adds Kantar’s Emer Healy. “With many firing up the BBQ and dining alfresco for the first time this year, shoppers spent an additional €14 million on typical summer fare, including sausages, coleslaw, antipasti, potato salad, non-alcoholic drinks, fabs & mixers, pickles, beer & cider and ice cream. With shoppers taking full advantage of the sunshine, we saw an additional €50,000 spent on suncare compared to this time last year.”

Retailer and channel performance

Total online holds 6% value share of the market with sales rising by 8% year-on-year and shoppers spending an additional €15.9 million through this channel. Over the latest 12-week period, shoppers purchased their groceries more often online, up by 10.4%, contributing €20.3 million to its overall performance.

During the latest 12-week period, Dunnes holds 23.8% market share, with sales growth of 7.2% year-on-year. Dunnes shoppers picked up more volume per trip, up 0.7% alongside making more frequent trips, up 1.8%, which contributed a combined €20.2 million to their overall performance.

Tesco holds 23.3% of the market, with value growth of 7.1% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to store by 5.3%, which contributed €41.3 million to overall performance.

SuperValu holds 20.3% of the market with growth of 5.4%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 24.9 trips over the latest 12 weeks, helping to contribute an additional €38.9 million to its performance.

Lidl holds 13.8% market share up 6.3%. Larger trips drove an additional €12.9 million in sales. Aldi holds 11.7% market share, up 6.8%. Increased trips to store and new shoppers drove an additional €24.2 million in sales.

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Grocery price inflation rises this month and currently stands at 4.91% compared to the same 12-week period last year. Inflation levels are up 2.52 percentage points compared to last year.

Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar, comments: “Despite average prices continuing to rise, it’s clear that Irish consumers are still treating themselves. With Easter falling late this year, it’s been a real boost for retailers who have benefitted from special occasions including St Patrick’s Day, Pancake Day, Easter and the forthcoming May bank holiday.”

Over the latest 12-week period, an additional €15.3 million was spent on seasonal Easter confectionery, with 82% of this attributed to Easter eggs alone. Shoppers also purchased more Easter eggs than last year, up 6.6%, with over 64% of Irish households buying one this year. Notably, 43% of all Easter egg sales were made on promotion.

Promotional sales were not just for Easter Eggs. The total grocery market in Ireland saw an increase in promotions by 15.4% in the 12-weeks with shoppers spending an additional €109 million on promotional lines versus the same period last year. Promotional sales currently hold 22.8% of total grocery spending compared to 20.8% last year.

Price influences shoppers but quality seals the deal

“Price influences decisions, but it’s clear that Irish shoppers still cherish quality, particularly when it comes to special occasions that bring people together and create lasting memories,” Emer Healy adds.

“This is evident with both branded (5.6%) and premium own label products (9.7%) growing faster than the market as a whole (5.5%). Our data shows that shoppers spent an additional €102m on these two ranges compared to last year. Brands continue to hold a higher value share of the total market with 47.7% while own label holds 46.9%. Ultimately, retailers need to demonstrate clear value to customers, but it’s a tricky balance especially as they are trying to manage their own rising business costs.”

April also saw a steep increase in alcohol sales, up 8.7% year-on-year. Shoppers spent an additional €8 million on beer and cider, wine and non-alcoholic drinks versus last year. Favourite Easter fare is still evident with shoppers spending a combined additional €2.5 million on hot cross buns and lamb.

Brighter and warmer days also boosted the performance of typical BBQ choices with an extra combined €1.1 million spent on sausages, antipasti, coleslaw and potato salad in April.

Channel and retailer performance

Over the 12-week period, online grocery sales were boosted by a 10% increase in shopping frequency and an influx of new customers. More than 18% of Irish households shopped online for groceries during this time, with new shoppers and more frequent trips contributing a combined €22.8 million to overall performance.

In the 12 weeks to 20 April, Dunnes holds 24.1% market share, with sales growth of 6.5% year-on-year. Dunnes shoppers picked up more volume per trip, up 2.2% as well as making more frequent trips, up 0.8%, which contributed a combined €24.4 million to their overall performance.

Tesco holds 23.4% of the market, with value growth of 7.1% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to store by 4.2%, contributing €32.5 million to overall performance.

SuperValu holds 20.3% of the market with growth of 5.2%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 24.5 trips over the latest 12 weeks. This increase in the number of shopping trips contributed an additional €37.2 million to its performance.

Lidl holds 13.5% market share up 5.3%. Larger trips drove an additional €10.7 million in sales. Aldi holds 11.5% market share, up 5.6%. Increased trips to store drove an additional €19.6 million in sales.

An update on inflation

Grocery inflation* stands at 4.91% over the 12 weeks to 20 April 2025.

*This figure is based on over 30,000 identical products compared year-on-year in the proportions purchased by Irish shoppers and therefore represents the most authoritative figure currently available. It is a ‘pure’ inflation measure in that shopping behaviour is held constant between the two comparison periods – shoppers are likely to achieve a lower personal inflation rate if they trade down or seek out more offers.

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Take-home value sales in Ireland increased by 3.4% over the four weeks to 23 March 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest grocery data from Kantar. This is the slowest market growth rate since November 2022, despite Irish shoppers enjoying St Patrick’s Day celebrations and Shrove Tuesday in March. The average volume per trip also continued to fall by 2.9% in March as shoppers preferred to shop little and often.

Grocery price inflation stands at 4.52%, up 1.16 percentage points compared to the same 12-week period last year.

Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar, comments: The continued rise in average prices – up 3.8% year-on-year – is contributing to a slowdown in sales, having a marked impact on consumer habits. With a combination of higher grocery prices and rising household costs, supermarkets are focusing on promotions to attract shoppers both in-store and online.

Promotional sales increased in the latest 12 weeks with shoppers spending an additional €99 million on promotional lines compared to the same period last year. Promotional sales currently hold 23% of total grocery spending compared to just 19% during the same time last year.

Alongside promotional activities, retailers are also pushing own label products as an alternative to brands. As a result, own label sales have jumped compared to last year by 4.5% with shoppers spending an additional €71.9 million on these ranges, accounting for 47.6% of all value sales. However, brands also remain popular with Irish shoppers, growing 4.5% compared to the same period last year and representing 47% of the total value market share.

Shoppers enjoy St Patrick’s Day and Pancake Tuesday but late Easter hits sales

Despite a late Easter this year, St Patrick’s Day and Shrove Tuesday helped boost seasonal sales in Ireland. Shoppers spent an additional €6.8 million on beer, spirits and wine combined, along with an extra €590k on hot cross buns, pancakes, sugar and sweet spreads, compared to last year. Sales of fish were also up as shoppers spent an additional €930k on fresh fish and ready meals combined.

“It seems that this year’s late Easter is prompting shoppers to delay the temptation to buy Easter eggs too early,” adds Emer Healy. “Irish shoppers spent €7.5 million less on Easter eggs in March compared to last year. But when we compare February 2025 with March 2025, we can see a significant increase in sales of €18.4 million. This is the same for total chocolate confectionary with year-on-year sales down 12.3%, but month-on-month spending up an additional €20 million.”

Retailer and channel performance

Online sales rose 10.8% year-on-year, with shoppers spending an additional €20.8 million through this channel. Over the 12-week period, shoppers purchased their groceries more often online, up 11.4%.

Over the latest 12 weeks, Dunnes holds 24.4% market share, with sales growth of 6% year-on-year. Dunnes shoppers picked up more volume per trip, with the strongest increase compared to the other retailers, up 1.9% versus last year, contributing a combined €15.6 million to its overall performance.

Tesco holds 23.2% of the market, with value growth of 6% year-on-year. Shoppers increased their trips to store, which contributed €33.6 million to overall performance.

SuperValu holds 20.2% of the market with growth of 5.4%. Consumers made the most shopping trips to this grocer, averaging 24.5 trips over the latest 12 weeks. This increase in the number of shopping trips alongside new shopper arrivals contributed an additional €44.4 million to its performance.

Lidl holds 13.5% market share up 4.7%. Larger trips drove an additional €3.3 million in sales. Aldi holds 11.6% market share, up 4.9%. Increased trips to store drove an additional €13.9 million in sales.

Grocery price inflation stands at 4.52% compared to the same 12-week period last year.

*This figure is based on over 30,000 identical products compared year-on-year in the proportions purchased by Irish shoppers and therefore represents the most authoritative figure currently available. It is a ‘pure’ inflation measure in that shopping behaviour is held constant between the two comparison periods – shoppers are likely to achieve a lower personal inflation rate if they trade down or seek out more offers.

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