Morrisons recorded faster sales growth than Sainsbury’s over the 12 weeks to 3 October 2026, according to NielsenIQ figures published on Tuesday, marking a notable change in the performance of two of Britain’s largest supermarket chains.
Sales at Morrisons increased by 1.1% over the period, compared with growth of 0.7% at Sainsbury’s. The figures cover sales value rather than profit or underlying like-for-like trading, and should not be read as a direct measure of financial performance.
The comparison is significant for Morrisons, which has been working to stabilise its business amid competition from Tesco, Lidl and other major grocers. It also follows reports of unsuccessful discussions about a possible combination of Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. Neither the NielsenIQ data nor the sales growth gap signals that any transaction will proceed.
Tesco increased sales by 1.9% during the same 12 weeks, while Lidl recorded 6.8% growth. Asda’s sales declined 0.5%, although the group returned to positive growth of 0.7% in the latest four weeks.
Ocado and Marks & Spencer grew significantly faster, with sales increasing 17.2% and 10.7% respectively. These contrasting performances underline the uneven pace of growth across grocery formats, from established supermarket estates to online-focused and premium food retailers.
Across the wider market, supermarket sales growth slowed to 1.4% in the latest four weeks from 1.8% in the preceding reporting period. Unit growth was almost flat at 0.1%, despite a 1.8% increase in shopping visits. The average spend per trip remained around £18.58.
For grocery suppliers, the sector-wide picture suggests limited scope to depend on higher volumes alone. Range decisions, promotional investment and product launches will remain important as retailers compete for shopper spending ahead of Christmas.
The next measure of whether Morrisons can maintain its improvement will come through subsequent trading reports and industry sales updates. NielsenIQ’s latest figures capture consumer spending, rather than the chains’ operating margins or profitability.
Editor’s note: Figures are from NielsenIQ’s UK Total Till report published 13 October 2026. NIQ has changed aspects of its market-share methodology, so historical market-share comparisons require care.
