Tesco has achieved its largest supermarket market share since 2017, boosting its share to 28%, up from 27.4% last year, according to new data from Kantar.

The figures follow Tesco raising its profit expectations last week (3 October), as its half-year profit soared 10% and sales jumped 4%.

Sainsbury’s sales also rose by 5.1%, according to Kantar, as its market share nudged up 0.4 percentage points to 15.2% in the 12 weeks ending 29 September.

However, Asda’s market share continued to drop, with its market share down to 12.6%, a fall from 13.7% in the same period last year.

Online supermarket Ocado once again took the title of the fastest-growing grocer, now for the eighth consecutive month, as sales soared 10% over the last three months, which saw its market share edge up by 0.1 percentage points to 1.8%.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

Grocery price inflation increased to 2% during the four weeks to 29 September, up from 1.7% last month, however Kantar head of retail and consumer insight Fraser McKevitt highlighted the some prices were falling.

He said: “In the fiercely competitive retail sector, the battle for value is on. Supermarkets are doing what they can to keep costs down for consumers and thanks to their efforts the prices in some categories are falling.

“The average price paid for toilet and kitchen roll is 6% lower year-on-year, for example, while dog and cat food are 4% and 3% cheaper respectively.”

McKevitt added that the upcoming Halloween should provide a filip for retailers as shoppers seek spooky-themed products earlier this year.

“Pumpkins are flying off the shelves, with sales nearly doubling last September’s figures, at just under £1m over the last four weeks.

“Sugar confectionery has also seen a 9% lift, and spending is expected to ramp up further this month as trick or treating approaches – confectionery sales were 16% higher in the second half of October last year.”