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THE VALUE OF sales at German discounters Aldi and Lidl is up over 13 per cent in the past year, according to the latest data from analysts Kantar Worldpanel.
There’s been a 13.5 per cent increase in sales at the two supermarkets in the 12 months up to January 2015. 8 per cent of the total take home grocery spend was at Aldi last year, while 7.4 per cent was at Lidl.
Elsewhere, retail giant Tesco is still holding on to the number one spot — but the brand has seen a two per cent decrease in its sector share in the same period.
Dunnes Stores is down only marginally on its 2013 performance, while Supervalu also drops slightly.
The positive figures for the German retailers come in the wake of yesterday’s front page story in the Sunday Times that Aldi has been turning to the officer ranks of the Irish army to recruit senior staff.
At least a dozen of the supermarket’s 50 managers in Ireland are former Defence Forces staff members, the paper reported, quoting army sources.
Meanwhile, there was another announcement from Aldi this morning. The retailer confirmed five new jobs would come on stream as a result of a new deal with Monaghan-based Connolly Meats to provide bacon products.
Christmas performance
Supermarket retailers enjoyed their best Christmas since 2010 last year according to Kantar, as consumer confidence was reflected in householders’ festive spend.
“Growing confidence in the economy meant shoppers relaxed the purse strings this Christmas, visiting the supermarkets more often in the seasonal period than last year,” Kantar’s Georgieann Harrington said.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, festive shoppers reached for the treats, and sales of confectionery grew by 6 per cent, crisps and snacks were up by 3 per cent and soft drinks enjoyed a 2 per cent sales growth.
“The battle for market share looks set to continue well into 2015,” Harrington added.
“With the top three retailers separated by the narrowest of margins, it really is all to play for in the coming months.”
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Yadda Yadda Jeff old boy. Have you not heard, you’re yesterdays news. Time the world moved on and left these dinasours behind in their caves
The DUP. The only party to never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity
Jeffrey the puppet on the strings operated by Dodds, Paisley and Sammy Bigot Wilson. We all know they are going to say NO
DUP: It’s the Flintstones
In the most basic terms this translates to DUP will never go into government with a Catholic 1st minister.
#Dinosaurs
@damian jennings: that’s it. In a nutshell.
@Joe Bergin.: Absolutely. Unbelievable the sense of entitlement they have.
The only thing that the DUP are on course for is the ending of their ‘precious union’ and its their rhetoric and actions that will hasten its demise.
Oh God, will they please ignore those dinosaurs and set up a government without them with the other parties representing all and get NI back on track
“Grounded in reality”. This party are as far away from reality you can get
….says the masters of rhetoric and highly negative emotive rhetoric at that…
He says their deliberations will be grounded in ‘reality’. They don’t know the meaning of that word. Both them and their supporters live in a completely different universe. Still stuck in the stoneage and everyone is paying the price for it. As the Alliance party leader said today. No party should hold a veto on making progress for Northern Ireland. I’ll keep saying it, it’s high time Jeff and his buddies were sidelined and let normal life resume for the benefit of everbody.
C
U
N
T
@Self Employed Anarchist:
lol … job for TJ’s IT Dept. on Monday :))
@zephyrum: I can’t believe it’s still up – I stand by it though- children are cold and hungry because of this “ persons “ arrogance.
@Self Employed Anarchist: in a nutshell. Well said.
@Self Employed Anarchist: I couldn’t have said it better.
@Self Employed Anarchist: i’m amazed the journal allowed this vile word through .The N word has been consigned to the dustbin of history and so should the C.word
Way to go…. it seems Jeffrey has done the SWOT analysis course
Hee Haw
They don’t want a way ahead, they just want everything THEIR way. They’re like spoilt brats
He should be KNOCKED OUT instead.
What are they going to do, release the dogs to violence and threats
If you gave the dup everything they asked for, they would find fault and disagree, gombeen ass h ole s. Should never be listened to…
Ya have to feel sorry for them… poor things… bless them.
It would be great if Mr Donaldson said something positive for a change.
And by the way, Mary Lou McDonald is not doing anyone any favours by constantly sticking for face into Northern politics. She’s a red rag to a bull up there. Michelle o Neill is well able to fight her corner and would have more credibility if she was seen as being her own woman.
I feel sorry for the man: it must be very painful to have someone stuck in your Iris.
Be careful what you wish for. A reform of the GFA could put the Alliance, DUP and SDLP into a coalition Gov with the largest of those parties suppling the First Minister. It would still be a cross community Gov and get things moving again!!
have your say