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Lidl had its most successful Christmas trading period on record, the supermarket chain said, boosted by a rise of a third in party food sales.<\/p>\n
Revenue rose almost 7% to more than \u00a31bn over the four weeks to Christmas Eve as customers bought 16 million pigs in blankets and a turkey every second.<\/p>\n
Sales were also helped by an increase in the number of its shops this year, although there are signs that growth may be slowing.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chain has joined many of its rivals in arguing that tax rises announced in the Budget could lead to job losses and higher prices for customers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The supermarket chain’s Christmas sales figures were aided by its highest-ever number of customers for the period, with two million more shopping there as it attempts to match rivals’ market share.<\/p>\n The firm said it had the highest growth in customer visits of any supermarket last year.<\/p>\n Customers also seemingly opted for the German discount chain while they were looking to save money on alcoholic drinks, as champagne sales rose by a quarter.<\/p>\n Its UK boss Ryan McDonnell said that he was “thrilled” by the rising number of shoppers.<\/p>\n Despite this, the 7% sales growth rate seen over the key Christmas trading period in 2024 marks a fall from the 12% achieved the year before.<\/p>\n Lidl also grew its total number of supermarkets in the UK to more than 970 last year – meaning the sales figures are not a “like-for-like” comparison.<\/p>\n In December, however, industry analysts at Kantar reported that Lidl was the fastest growing bricks-and-mortar grocer over the past quarter, as it closes in on Morrisons’ position as the UK’s fifth largest supermarket group.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Mr McDonnell said that the firm was “excited to build” on this momentum.<\/p>\n