Tesco leads the UK grocery market with 28.7% share, followed by Sainsbury's (16.3%), Asda (11.4%) and Aldi (10.1%), according to Kantar's most recent published data. The discounters Aldi and Lidl have grown from a combined 10% of the market in 2017 to around 18-19% now, taking share almost entirely from the traditional "Big Four" of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons, whose combined share has fallen from around 73% in 2017 to roughly 65% today.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 12 July 2026
- Tesco is the UK's largest grocer with 28.7% market share, followed by Sainsbury's (16.3%), Asda (11.4%) and Aldi (10.1%), per Kantar's most recent published data.
- Aldi overtook Morrisons in September 2022 to become the UK's fourth-largest grocery retailer and has held that position since.
- The traditional "Big Four" (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons) held around 73% of the market in 2017; that's fallen to roughly 65% now, with almost all the lost share going to discounters Aldi and Lidl.
- Grocery inflation eased to 4.3% in Kantar's most recent reading, with average household spend around £476 in the four weeks to 28 December 2025.
KEY FACTS
- Tesco: 28.7% market share, the largest UK grocer
- Sainsbury's: 16.3%; Asda: 11.4%; Aldi: 10.1%; Co-op: 5.1%; Waitrose: 4.7%; Iceland: 2.3%
- Aldi overtook Morrisons in September 2022 to become the UK's 4th largest grocer
- Big Four combined share fell from ~73% (2017) to ~65% (2026), almost entirely lost to discounters Aldi and Lidl
- Grocery inflation: 4.3% (Kantar's most recent reading); average household spend ~£476 over 4 weeks
Full UK Grocery Market Share Breakdown
| Tesco | 28.7% | |||
| Sainsbury's | 16.3% | |||
| Asda | 11.4% | |||
| Aldi | 10.1% | |||
| Co-op | 5.1% | |||
| Waitrose | 4.7% | |||
| Iceland | 2.3% |
Tesco remains comfortably the UK's largest grocer, holding more than a quarter of all grocery spending. Sainsbury's is a clear second, with Asda and Aldi close behind in third and fourth place. The chart above uses Kantar's most recent published figures, the industry-standard measure of UK grocery market share, based on the four weeks to 28 December 2025.
| Retailer | Market Share | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 28.7% | Largest overall; Clubcard Prices drive loyalty-based value |
| Sainsbury's | 16.3% | Second largest; Nectar scheme, strong own-label range |
| Asda | 11.4% | Value positioning, but losing ground to discounters |
| Aldi | 10.1% | Discounter; overtook Morrisons in Sept 2022 to become 4th largest |
| Lidl | ~9% | Fastest-growing bricks-and-mortar retailer, gaining share every year |
| Morrisons | ~8% | Traditional Big Four member, now challenged by discounters |
| Co-op | 5.1% | Convenience-focused, strong community/local presence |
| Waitrose | 4.7% | Premium positioning, growing faster than the market overall |
| Iceland | 2.3% | Frozen food specialist, value-focused niche |
Lidl and Morrisons figures above reflect the broader range reported across recent Kantar periods, since exact percentages shift slightly month to month; Aldi and Tesco's figures come directly from Kantar's most recent published snapshot.
The Bigger Story: Discounters Reshaping the Market
The single biggest structural shift in UK grocery retail over the past decade has been the rise of German discounters Aldi and Lidl at the direct expense of the traditional "Big Four" (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons).
| 2010 | ~76% | |||
| 2017 | ~73% | |||
| 2026 | ~65% |
In 2017, Aldi and Lidl held a combined market share of around 10%. Today, combined, they hold somewhere between 18% and 19%, nearly double. Aldi crossed a symbolic threshold in September 2022, overtaking Morrisons to become the UK's fourth-largest grocery retailer, a position it has held ever since. The Big Four's combined share, once around three-quarters of the market, has fallen to roughly two-thirds.
Why the Discounters Keep Winning
Aldi and Lidl's growth accelerated sharply during the 2021-2023 cost-of-living crisis, when grocery inflation peaked at close to 19%, but the trend predates and has outlasted that specific shock. Both discounters run a leaner model than traditional supermarkets: a smaller range of products (typically 80% of what a full-size supermarket carries), heavy reliance on private-label goods over branded products, and simplified store formats that keep overheads down. That structural cost advantage lets them consistently undercut full-range supermarkets on core grocery items, even as perceptions of discounter quality have improved significantly, drawing in wealthier shoppers who once avoided them by reputation alone.
What This Means for Your Shopping
Tesco and Sainsbury's have responded to discounter pressure with loyalty-card pricing, Clubcard Prices and Nectar Prices respectively, which can bring branded-supermarket prices close to discounter levels on specific promoted items, but only for loyalty scheme members and only on selected products. For a genuinely low weekly shop on staples and own-label basics, Aldi and Lidl remain consistently cheaper on a like-for-like basket. For branded goods, wider product range, or online delivery, the larger supermarkets still have the edge. Co-op and convenience-format stores generally command a price premium in exchange for accessibility and shorter shopping trips.
The Bottom Line
No single supermarket is cheapest for everything. The practical approach most household-budgeting guidance converges on: shop at Aldi or Lidl for weekly staples and own-label basics, use a full-range supermarket's loyalty pricing for branded items you specifically want, and treat convenience-format stores as a top-up option rather than a main weekly shop, given their higher average prices.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is for general information only. Kael Tripton Ltd is an independent editorial publisher and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Market share figures are sourced from Kantar's published data and can shift from period to period; figures for some retailers reflect the most recent range reported across several Kantar releases rather than a single identical snapshot date. ICO registration ZC135439.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK supermarket has the biggest market share?
Tesco, with 28.7% of the market according to Kantar's most recent published data, making it comfortably the UK's largest grocer.
Is Aldi bigger than Morrisons now?
Yes. Aldi overtook Morrisons in September 2022 to become the UK's fourth-largest grocery retailer, and has held that position since.
Are Aldi and Lidl actually cheaper than the big supermarkets?
For a typical weekly shop on staples and own-label items, generally yes. Tesco and Sainsbury's can match or beat discounter prices on specific loyalty-card promoted items, but not consistently across a full basket.
How has the UK grocery market changed over the past decade?
The traditional "Big Four" (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons) held around 73% of the market in 2017; that's fallen to roughly 65% now, with almost all of the lost share going to discounters Aldi and Lidl.
What is UK grocery inflation currently?
4.3%, according to Kantar's most recent published reading, easing from higher levels seen during the 2021-2023 cost-of-living crisis.
SOURCES
- Kantar, UK grocery market share data (four weeks to 28 December 2025) – accessed 12 July 2026
