LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Supermarket sales sparked in June, industry data showed on Wednesday, fuelled by the warmer summer weather and Father's Day.
According to NielsenIQ, total till sales growth was 3.8% in the four weeks to 14 June, an improvement on the 3% uplift seen in May.

NIQ attributed the growth to the hot weather, which heightened demand for al fresco and at-home dining, as well as Father's Day, which fell on 15 June. There was also a spike in demand for healthier foods, such as yoghurt and fresh fruit.

However, the average spend per visit fell 2.5% to £18.61, as under-pressure shoppers continued to seek out savings and promotional offers amid an uncertain economic backdrop.

Among individual grocers, Tesco - the UK's largest, with a market share of 26.2% - saw sales grow 6.6% year-on-year in the 12 weeks to 14 June. Sales at its closest rival, J Sainsbury, rose 5.8% over the same period, giving it a 14.8% share of the market.

German discounters Aldi and Lidl continued to see strong sales growth, of 7.1% and 11.2% respectively. At the other end of the market, sales improved 5.5% at John Lewis Partnership-owned Waitrose while sales at online-only Ocado were up 15.6%.

Asda, however, saw sales ease 1.6% while at the Co-operative - which has been hit by a cyberattack - they were 3.8% lower.

Food sales growth also slowed at Marks & Spencer, which has similarly been rocked by hackers. Sales growth slowed to 9.1%, down from 10.8% in May and 14.7% in April.

Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insight at NIQ, said: "In the first six weeks of summer, shoppers have spent £700m more, and 75% of that has been in fresh and chilled foods.

"A sustained period of summer weather through to the first week of September would be helpful to the industry as this would tip the balance back to positive unit growth."

Clive Black, analyst at Shore Capital, said June had been a "sound month" for revenue growth in the grocery sector.

He continued: "Value growth was driven by price, with volume down 0.7% year-on-year.

"The market is, as ever, competitive, but also rational; no price war is evident, which augurs well for earnings outcomes in 2026."

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