Sainsbury’s Q1 Sales Rise, Maintains Full-Year Outlook

Sainsbury’s (LON: SBRY) reported a 4.9% rise in total retail sales excluding fuel for the 16 weeks to 21 June 2025, as strong grocery performance and improved value perception helped the UK supermarket chain gain its highest market share since 2016.

Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, rose 4.7% year-on-year, with grocery up 5% and Argos climbing 4.4%. General merchandise and clothing sales grew 4.2%.

Chief Executive Simon Roberts said the company’s “winning combination of great value, outstanding quality, excellent availability and leading customer service” had driven market share gains. 

He added: “We’re delivering our strongest ever customer offer and many more people are choosing us for their main grocery shop.”

Sainsbury’s credited the success to an expanded Aldi Price Match campaign, now covering 800 essentials, and high uptake of its Nectar loyalty scheme. 

The group also pointed to strong momentum from seasonal sales, with its premium Taste the Difference fresh food range up 20%.

Online grocery sales rose 6%, while convenience store sales also grew 6%, with customer satisfaction scores hitting record highs.

The group reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting underlying retail operating profit of around £1 billion and free cash flow above £500 million. It said profit delivery would be weighted more towards the second half.

“We have great momentum,” said Roberts, adding that the supermarket giant is “well set to deliver another strong performance over the summer.”