Grocery inflation continued to rise sharply in Q1 2023, and grocery shoppers are paying an average of €1,200 per annum more for their groceries than a year ago.

According to Kantar in the 12 weeks to 19 March 2023, grocery price inflation was up by 16.8% compared with the corresponding 12-week period in 2022.

Kantar said the figure is based on over 30,000 identical products compared year-on-year in the proportions purchased by Irish shoppers and therefore represents the most authoritative grocery inflation figure available.

“It is a ‘pure’ inflation measure in that shopping behaviour is held constant between the two comparison periods. Shoppers are likely to achieve a lower personal inflation rate if they trade down or seek out more offers,” Kantar explained.

Sales of own-label products (+13.5%) grew faster than sales of brands (+6.2%) during the period, with value own-label products seeing the strongest growth (+34.5%) as inflation continues to bite.

Own-label items (47.3%) now hold a larger share of the grocery market than brands (47%).

Dunnes Stores holds the highest share of the Irish grocery market at 23.2%.

Tesco holds a 22.1% share followed by SuperValu on 20.6%. Lidl (13.3%) and Aldi (12.3%) also saw increases in market share as all the multiples benefited from shoppers turning their back on corner stores.

According to Kantar, market share for 'other outlets' in the 12-week period declined to 8.5% from 9.2% a year ago.

(Pic: Getty Images)