Morrisons sales surge amid growing grocery market share
Morrisons sales jumped last year as the supermarket said it took market share from competitors and grew its loyalty card scheme.
The company said like-for-like sales rose 4.1% in the year ending October 27, while earnings jumped to £835 million from £751 million in the previous 12 months.
The annual results did not cover the key Christmas trading period, when Morrisons suffered IT issues, forcing it to cut the price of items including turkeys and Champagne for some customers.
But the supermarket did show its best quarter since 2021 for the three months to October 27, when sales rose 4.9% compared to the previous year.
Morrisons, which has its headquarters in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and employs more than 100,000 people across the UK, has been owned by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice since 2021.
The improvements across the business have resulted in better availability in our stores, sharper prices, more effective promotions and a strong and growing loyalty scheme
Morrisons chief executive Rami Baitieh
Chief executive Rami Baitieh said: 'This has been a year of urgent reinvigoration and positive progress for Morrisons.
'Customer transactions increased, market share grew from Q2 and we saw positive switching from our competitors.
'The improvements across the business have resulted in better availability in our stores, sharper prices, more effective promotions and a strong and growing loyalty scheme.'
It comes after Morrisons said it would axe more than 200 jobs as part of a cost-cutting plan, joining Sainsbury's in reducing headcount in the months after the October Budget.
The move followed Mr Baitieh warning that supermarkets faced an 'avalanche of costs' after Chancellor Rachel Reeves increased taxes for employers.
Morrisons was one of more than 70 businesses, including Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's, that told Ms Reeves in an open letter that the changes announced in the Budget mean price rises are a 'certainty'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Award-winning Aldi, Co-op, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco wines
From a £7 Portuguese red to a £22 vintage Champagne, UK supermarkets picked up dozens of top medals for their own-brand bottles, with wines from Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Co-op, Asda and Waitrose going head-to-head with fine wine producers from around the globe. In one of the most competitive judging seasons yet, wines from major UK grocers earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals across every style, from English sparkling to Barolo, Rioja, and Sauternes – many at everyday prices. Top medal winners from the IWSC 2025 Pop these award-winners in your trolley this weekend Aldi Animus Douro Reserva 2022 – Silver (94 points), £6.99 A full-bodied Portuguese red, praised for its richness and structure. One of the best-value medallists of the year. Asda Extra Special Rioja Reserva 2019 – Silver (94 points), £8 Classic vanilla, spice, and red fruit Rioja profile, praised for structure and ageing potential. M&S Collection Picpoul de Pinet 2023 – Silver (91 points), £9 A crisp, coastal white from the Languedoc – ideal summer drinking. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference English Bacchus 2023 – Silver (92 points), £9.50 A fresh, zesty white made in England, earning high praise in a competitive aromatic white category. Tesco Finest Sauternes (37.5cl) – Gold (92 points), £12 A classic French dessert wine, offering luscious, honeyed fruit for under half the price of château equivalents. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Barolo 2019 – Silver (90 points), £14 An accessible expression of Italy's king of wines, delivering dark cherry and rose petal notes. Co-op Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne 2013 – Gold (95 points), £22 The only supermarket Champagne to win Gold. A standout vintage with complex brioche and citrus notes. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 – Gold (95 points), £16 A bold southern Rhône red made in partnership with top estates, described by judges as 'impressively elegant.' M&S Collection Saint Gall Premier Cru Champagne NV – Gold (95 points), £28 Elegant, chalky, and finely textured – made in partnership with a historic grower in Épernay. Waitrose No.1 English Sparkling Brut NV – Silver (91 points), £22.99 One of the UK's most awarded sparkling wines, holding its own against Champagne. David Kermode, IWSC judge and broadcaster, says: "These results are a wake-up call for anyone who still associates great wine with high prices. "The best supermarket own-label ranges are now being made by some of the most respected producers in the world and the blind tasting at IWSC proves just how well they perform." Christelle Guibert, CEO of the IWSC, added: "At the IWSC, every wine is judged blind by a panel of experts from across the globe. What makes this year especially exciting is the number of affordable supermarket wines standing out alongside premium bottles. It's proof that great winemaking doesn't have to come with a luxury price tag." Recommended reading: The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) is widely regarded as the gold standard for wine and spirit quality. With entries judged blind by Masters of Wine, sommeliers, buyers and producers, its rigorous methodology ensures medals are awarded purely on taste and quality – with judges never seeing the bottle or label, eliminating all bias or visual influence. Celebrated globally for its integrity and expertise, the IWSC remains one of the most respected and trusted competitions in the drinks industry.
Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Award-winning Aldi, Co-op, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco wines
From a £7 Portuguese red to a £22 vintage Champagne, UK supermarkets picked up dozens of top medals for their own-brand bottles, with wines from Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Co-op, Asda and Waitrose going head-to-head with fine wine producers from around the globe. In one of the most competitive judging seasons yet, wines from major UK grocers earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals across every style, from English sparkling to Barolo, Rioja, and Sauternes – many at everyday prices. Top medal winners from the IWSC 2025 Pop these award-winners in your trolley this weekend Aldi Animus Douro Reserva 2022 – Silver (94 points), £6.99 A full-bodied Portuguese red, praised for its richness and structure. One of the best-value medallists of the year. Asda Extra Special Rioja Reserva 2019 – Silver (94 points), £8 Classic vanilla, spice, and red fruit Rioja profile, praised for structure and ageing potential. M&S Collection Picpoul de Pinet 2023 – Silver (91 points), £9 A crisp, coastal white from the Languedoc – ideal summer drinking. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference English Bacchus 2023 – Silver (92 points), £9.50 A fresh, zesty white made in England, earning high praise in a competitive aromatic white category. Tesco Finest Sauternes (37.5cl) – Gold (92 points), £12 A classic French dessert wine, offering luscious, honeyed fruit for under half the price of château equivalents. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Barolo 2019 – Silver (90 points), £14 An accessible expression of Italy's king of wines, delivering dark cherry and rose petal notes. Co-op Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne 2013 – Gold (95 points), £22 The only supermarket Champagne to win Gold. A standout vintage with complex brioche and citrus notes. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 – Gold (95 points), £16 A bold southern Rhône red made in partnership with top estates, described by judges as 'impressively elegant.' M&S Collection Saint Gall Premier Cru Champagne NV – Gold (95 points), £28 Elegant, chalky, and finely textured – made in partnership with a historic grower in Épernay. Waitrose No.1 English Sparkling Brut NV – Silver (91 points), £22.99 One of the UK's most awarded sparkling wines, holding its own against Champagne. David Kermode, IWSC judge and broadcaster, says: "These results are a wake-up call for anyone who still associates great wine with high prices. "The best supermarket own-label ranges are now being made by some of the most respected producers in the world and the blind tasting at IWSC proves just how well they perform." Christelle Guibert, CEO of the IWSC, added: "At the IWSC, every wine is judged blind by a panel of experts from across the globe. What makes this year especially exciting is the number of affordable supermarket wines standing out alongside premium bottles. It's proof that great winemaking doesn't have to come with a luxury price tag." Recommended reading: The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) is widely regarded as the gold standard for wine and spirit quality. With entries judged blind by Masters of Wine, sommeliers, buyers and producers, its rigorous methodology ensures medals are awarded purely on taste and quality – with judges never seeing the bottle or label, eliminating all bias or visual influence. Celebrated globally for its integrity and expertise, the IWSC remains one of the most respected and trusted competitions in the drinks industry.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Cheaper imported chicken and beef increasingly seen in UK supermarkets
Cheap chicken and beef from Australia, Poland and Uruguay is on the rise on UK supermarket shelves, according to the National Farmers' Union, as supermarkets look for money-saving options. The NFU regularly monitors supermarket shelves and notes that Morrisons is now selling raw chicken from Poland in its poultry aisle. Chicken in Poland is generally produced to different standards from those in the UK, and is cheaper to produce as a result. Morrisons requires that for its UK chicken, poultry must be kept at a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m2, giving the chickens more space to roam. In Poland, this is up to 39kg/m2. The retailer has also begun to sell sirloin steak from Australia, made possible, according to NFU sources, by the unpopular trade deal struck by Liz Truss with Australia. Australian beef, like Polish chicken, is generally produced to different animal welfare and environmental standards than meat in the UK. Feedlots are commonly used and, according to the RSPCA in Australia, the country is ranked D for farm animal welfare compared with B for the UK. The supermarket sponsors the TV show Clarkson's Farm and frequently reiterates its commitment to British farmers. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, said: 'This is appalling from Morrisons. They seek kudos for their UK sourcing but then sneakily do this, undermining British farmers and undermining their own integrity and brand.' Other supermarkets are also sourcing meat from farther afield than previously. Asda is now selling sirloin and ribeye steaks from Uruguay, priced much lower than their UK counterparts. They are priced at £21.94/kg and £23.70/kg respectively, which is about 20% less than their UK and Irish beef, priced at £27.93/kg for sirloin and £28.81 for ribeye. Stuart Roberts, a beef, sheep and cereal farmer from Hertfordshire said: 'With farmers under pressure from multiple directions I'd be fascinated to learn why Asda have decided this is an appropriate time to start stocking Uruguayan beef. There is no excuse for this huge betrayal of the UK's hard-working family farms. Consumers and farmers deserve better.' Sainsbury's has also been found to be stocking beef steaks from New Zealand. Supermarkets said they were doing this to offer 'outstanding value' to customers. The cost of red meat has soared in recent months, with UK farm gate beef prices at 713.3p/kg on 3 May, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), a 43.8% year-on-year increase. The AHDB predicts that beef production will fall by 5% in the next year due to a decline in farming profitability and an expected cut to subsidies. The NFU livestock board chair, David Barton, said: 'It's deeply concerning to see major retailers now move away from their previous commitments to sourcing British … in favour of imports many of which have been produced to lower standards. Farmers' longstanding partnerships with retailers have supported sustainable supply chains, so this shift is alarming. 'Decisions to renege on sourcing commitments erode trust and damage farmer confidence at a time when the sector is facing immense challenges and, with increased global insecurity, the need to build sustainable food supply chains has never been more important. 'British farmers have invested in higher standards such as reducing antibiotic use in beef and lowering poultry stocking densities in sheds. But delivering these standards comes with additional financial costs. Long-term sourcing commitments from retailers are essential to ensuring that the high welfare British food consumers want remains available.' A Morrisons spokesperson said: 'Morrisons remains 100% British on all our meat counters. In our aisles – alongside our New Zealand lamb – we are introducing trials of some imported meat from trusted suppliers to help us offer outstanding value through the seasons and through any supply fluctuations. 'We are proud to be the single biggest direct supermarket customer of British farming and are looking to grow the overall volumes of British meat through Myton Food Group.' An Asda spokesperson said: 'We always look to offer customers a wide choice of products to suit all budgets, and the country of origin is always clearly labelled on pack so customers can make an informed choice about their purchases. Grass & Grill steaks are provided by a branded partner and available in our stores for a limited time only. All of Asda's own brand fresh beef continues to be sourced from farms in the UK and Republic of Ireland.' Sainsbury's has been contacted for comment.
