Sainsbury’s has posted strong preliminary results for the 52 weeks to 28 February 2026, with group revenue increasing by 2.7 per cent to £33.6 billion.

The retailer’s profit after tax surged by 55.3 per cent to £393 million, and sales increased by 4.3 per cent to £29.9 billion.

Sainsbury’s grocery sales went up by 5.2 per cent, driven by strong volume growth and market share gains throughout the year.

The supermarket’s premium private label brand, Taste the Difference, achieved sales ahead of a £2 billion target, with fresh food sales increasing by 16 per cent.

However, Sainsbury’s underlying operating profit declined by 1.1 per cent to £1.025 billion, which was negatively impacted by significant operating cost inflation and investment in value amid the competitive market.

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The supermarket’s underlying earnings per share went up by 3.2 per cent, which reflects a higher overall profit and lower average number of shares.

CEO of Sainsbury’s Simon Roberts said: “By staying relentlessly focused on the things that matter most – value, quality, availability and service – we have outperformed the market for the sixth year in a row.

“Rather than pass through the full extent of cost inflation, we invested to sustain the strength of our competitive position while also refreshing stores, improving digital experiences and increasing colleague pay by five per cent.

“Our balanced choices reflect a consistent long-term approach to creating value for shareholders: strengthening our relationships with customers, colleagues and suppliers and building a stronger Sainsbury’s for the future.

“We will do everything we can to support our customers and colleagues over the coming months, with absolute focus on keeping prices low. We have made a positive start to the new financial year, with continued strong grocery momentum.”

Moving forward, the retailer estimates that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is set to negatively impact the upcoming financial year.

Sainsbury’s expects a total underlying profit of between £975 million and £1 billion and forecasts a retail free cash flow of over £500 million.