GROCERY INFLATION IN Ireland has risen by close to 7% when compared with this time last year.

This figure is based on over 30,000 identical products which are compared year-on-year.

In the most recent 12-week reporting period, grocery inflation rose by 6.82%, up from 6.25% in the previous reporting period.

Meanwhile, Worldpanel by Numerator found that take-home grocery sales in Ireland rose by 5% in the four-week period to 25 January, with shoppers spending €1.2 billion over this timeframe.

Emer Healy, business development director at Worldpanel by Numerator, remarked that January is “typically the time when shoppers reset their household budgets, and this year was no different”.

“While grocery sales continued to grow, rising inflation meant that value remained front of mind for consumers,” she added.

She said the latest pressure group study conducted by Worldpanel by Numerator found that 31% of shoppers in Ireland feel that they are struggling to make ends meet.

“This is no surprise,” said Healy. “Rising grocery inflation means that consumers are increasingly feeling the pinch.”

Worldpanel by Numerator also found that after grocery spending hit a record high in December, shoppers looked to rein in costs in January.

Own label products accounted for over 43% of total grocery spend, with shoppers spending more than €1.7 billion on own label goods over the latest 12-week period.

The strong performance of premium own label goods also continued, with growth of 5%.

However, branded products remained resilient, growing at a rate of 7.3%.

Last month, Irish shoppers also spent an additional €450,000 on low- and no-alcohol beverages.

Spending on fresh fruit, chilled smoothies, juices and yoghurts was also on the rise, increasing by more than €8.1 million, while healthcare sales increased 6.8% year-on-year.

Elsewhere, online grocery sales continue to grow, rising 7% year-on-year.

Around one-in-five Irish households purchased groceries online during the latest 12-week period.

Among the retailers, Dunnes Stores holds a 24.8% market share, up on the previous 12-week period and with sales growth of 4.5% year-on-year.

Tesco holds just under a quarter of the market, at 24.4%, with value growth of 6.5% year-on-year.

SuperValu meanwhile holds 19.4% market share, with growth of 0.4% – it remains the most frequently visited grocer, averaging 22 trips per shopper.

Lidl was also once again the fastest-growing grocer, up 12.2% and holding 13.2% of the market.

Aldi, meanwhile, holds 10.4% market share, up 1.7%.