In the Media

• 29/05/2019 - The Times

  Big four supermarkets lose out as discounters Aldi and Lidl keep growing

  
  

  The four largest supermarkets have all lost market share in recent months as Aldi and Lidl continue to achieve strong growth.
  
  Sales at Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons fell in the three months to May 19, while Tesco’s sales were flat, according to the latest figures from Kantar, the market analytics company. Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket, controls 27.3 per cent of the groceries market, down by 0.4 percentage points, while Sainsbury’s and Asda each have 15.2 per cent, the figures show. Morrisons’ market share fell by 0.4 per cent to 10.4 per cent.

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• 29/05/2019 - The Telegraph

  Big four' supermarkets struggle as Aldi and Lidl march higher

  
  

  None of the UK's "big four" supermarkets managed to grow their sales in the last 12 weeks, the first time in almost three years that they have all failed to do so.
  
  In contrast, German discounters Aldi and Lidl marched to a record combined market share in the UK grocery sector as their expansion continued, eating into the supremacy of the established big players, according to closely watched data from Kantar.
  
  It was the first time since June 2016 that none of the big four - Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons - increased their sales compared to the same period in the previous year, underlining the profound impact of the discounters.

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• 29/05/2019 - Reuters

  Britain's 'Big Four' grocers lose market share

  
  

  Britain’s “Big Four” supermarkets all lost market share in the 12 weeks to May 19, market research company Kantar said, as like-for-like sales flatlined at leader Tesco and fell at Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons.
  
  Tesco’s share fell to 27.3% from 27.7% a year ago, while Sainsbury’s and Asda had equal shares of 15.2%, after sales fell by 1.7% and 0.2% respectively, Kantar said. Sales at Morrisons fell 0.4%, giving it a share of 10.4%.
  
  German discounters Aldi and Lidl continued to record strong growth, with sales up 11.1% and 8.5% respectively, giving them a record combined share of 13.8%, Kantar said.

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• 22/05/2019 - Forbes

  Luckin Coffee Shares Slide After IPO As Analysts Question Profitability Prospects

  
  

  Luckin’s future outlook remains challenging. Analysts don’t see the subsidies going away any time soon because a substantial number of its current customers have been attracted by its cheaper prices, meaning the cash burn would have to continue to keep them from going elsewhere.
  
  “It is undeniable that in this market, a lot of consumers are buying Luckin because of the discounts,” says Jason Yu, a China-based general manager at consultancy Kantar Worldpanel. “There is a big question mark over whether they’d stay in the future.”

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• 21/05/2019 - Lancaster Guardian

  All you need to know as Lancaster's newest Lidl store opens its doors

  
  

  The new supermarket forms part of the company’s ongoing expansion and regeneration plans in England, Scotland and Wales and bosses say it has created up to 40 new jobs. The store has a 1,175m² sales area and features facilities such as an in-store bakery.
  
  Lidl GB’s Regional Head of Property, Stuart Jardine, said: “We would like to thank all those who have played a part in bringing this new Lidl store to Lancaster. It is great for us to be able to create more jobs and investment opportunities in the area.”
  
  The latest Kantar Worldpanel consumer research suggests Lidl has increased sales year-on-year, with a market share high of 5.7 per cent.

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• 20/05/2019 - Business Times

  China's Starbucks rival lists on Nasdaq with cars-to-lattes plan

  
  

  The team behind Luckin Coffee is betting that what worked for them in car rentals will prove a success with java. Their US$130 million annual cash burn - and rival Starbucks Corp's dominance in the Chinese coffee market - makes it a risky proposition.
  
  For now, American investors seem impressed enough by Luckin's aggressive expansion plan for the Xiamen-based company to raise a higher-than-expected US$561 million in its initial public offering Thursday. The stock jumped 20 per cent to US$20.38 in New York on Friday, compared with a decline in the S&P 500 Index.
  
  Reinout Schakel, the company's chief financial officer, said he was pleased with the trading debut.

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