Private equity-owned supermarkets Asda and Morrisons have fallen further behind their biggest rivals.
Sales at all of the Big Four grocers were lower in the 12 weeks to February 21 than in the same period a year earlier when lockdown boosted business.
But while Tesco sales fell 2.6 per cent and Sainsbury’s by 4.1 per cent, Asda suffered a 5.5 per cent fall and Morrisons saw sales tumble 8.2 per cent.
Sales at all of the Big Four grocers were lower in the 12 weeks to February 21 than in the same period a year earlier when lockdown boosted business.
The figures, from market research group Kantar, raised fears private equity barons will be bad stewards for the grocers.
New York-based Clayton, Dubilier & Rice bought Morrisons for £7billion in October.
Asda was bought by billionaire Issa brothers and TDR Capital for £6.8billion in 2020.
German discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl both saw sales rise 3.3 per cent.
Lidl overtook Co-op for the first time to become the UK’s sixth-biggest supermarket, with a 5.7 per cent share of the market.
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