If the monthly Worldpanel grocery figures are anything to go by, the UK’s biggest supermarket chain Tesco (TESCO) has had a good 2025, so investors will be keen to hear from chief executive Ken Murphy just how good the year has been when the group unveils its half-year results on 2 October.

As of the start of September, Tesco’s share of UK grocery spending stood at 28.4%, up 0.8% on the same time last year, while customer spending rose 7.7% in the latest 12-week period, the highest rate since December 2023.

The group has successfully defended itself against the discounters Aldi and Lidl through its Price Match and Clubcard offerings, so although the duo now account for 18.9% of the market against just 17.3% at the end of 2024, the big casualties are elsewhere in the sector. They include Asda and Sainsbury’s (SBRY) which between them have lost 1.8% of market share since the turn of the year.

Inflation is still the main driver of grocery sales, with volumes hovering around flat over the last few months and shoppers making more visits to stores but baskets getting progressively smaller over time.

It's worth noting supermarkets’ own lines now account for just over 51% of all sales, with premium products the real standout posting six consecutive months of double-digit growth.

That should bode well for Tesco’s Finest* range, which enjoyed 18% growth in the first three months of the current financial year helped by the introduction of new products.

The group has also pushed ahead with its online offering, where UK sales were up over 11% in the first three months and market share increased.

Plus, the firm’s popular F+F clothing range went online in May, so that should bring a boost to sales for the first half. 

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