Over 1.3 million more customers shopped at Lidl GB during the run up to Christmas, as the discounter’s sales increased 24.5% year-on-year for the four week period to 25 December.
Shoppers switched nearly £63m of spend from other retailers – almost triple that of Christmas 2021 – as they turned to the discounter instead of shopping in more ‘traditional supermarkets’.
As a result, the retailer celebrated its busiest ever day of trading in 28 years on Friday 23 December.
“Every week of the year we are seeing more customers coming through our doors, switching spend to Lidl from the traditional supermarkets,” said Lidl GB CEO Ryan McDonnell.
“We know they switch to us to make savings, but then they stay with us when they realise that they’re not having to compromise on quality, and this Christmas was no exception.”
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“Our strategy – great quality products at low prices – has remained the same since we first opened our doors over 28 years ago,” McDonnell added.
“But that is only because it’s as relevant now as it ever has been. It is working because we are seeing big switching gains with over £63m of spend moving to us in the four weeks to 25 December. We only see this momentum continuing in 2023.”
Seasonal highlights from the retailer included its ‘Pick of the Week’ Christmas veg, which were on sale for 19p each and saw sales jump by over a third (37%) year-on-year. Lidl’s own-brand deluxe Christmas pudding sales also increased by 185% on last year’s sales, while Christmas lights and decorations were up by 85% and 71% respectively.
Lidl shoppers also supported the supermarket’s initiatives supporting the wider community, donating over 60,000 toys and games through the Lidl Bear Toy Bank.
The Following its pledge to make its largest community food donation ever, the equivalent of 1 million meals were donated through surplus food donations. On Christmas Eve alone, the retailer donated approximately 150,000 meals to those in need.
McDonnell continued: “As we head into another new year, we’re laser focused on strengthening our infrastructure across the country.
“As we continue with the expansion of our distribution centres in Belvedere and Bridgend, we’re set to open our biggest ever warehouse in Luton later this year. This doubles down on our efforts of giving more communities access to our unrivalled quality-value combination, something that’s particularly important as families continue to tighten their belts in the current climate.”
