Lidl overtakes Morrisons as UK's fifth-largest supermarket

Lidl has overtaken Morrisons to become Britain’s fifth-largest supermarket, marking a significant shift in the country's grocery market. According to the latest market share data from Worldpanel by Numerator, covering the 12 weeks to May 17, the German discounter now holds an 8.6% share, ahead of Morrisons at 8.3%.

Lidl’s sales grew by 8.8% year-on-year during the period, reaching £3.16 billion. In contrast, sales at Morrisons grew by just 1.3% to just over £3 billion. The milestone caps a dramatic ascent for Lidl, which held only a 1.4% market share 25 years ago. The company has expanded rapidly since opening its first UK store in 1994 and now operates more than 1,000 stores and 13 distribution centers.

Ryan McDonnell, Lidl GB’s chief executive, called the achievement a significant milestone and a clear indication of the momentum the company has built. He stated that households are looking for reliable value without compromising on quality and that the retailer remains focused on delivering exactly that. Lidl is moving ahead with ambitious expansion plans, pledging earlier this year to open more than 50 new stores in the next 12 months as part of a £600 million investment.