DUNNES STORES and Aldi saw the biggest gains of any supermarkets in the Christmas shopping market – increasing their share at the expense of smaller outlets, new figures show.

Data published by Kantar Worldpanel shows the two chains enjoying a significant increase in their share of the grocery market for the Christmas 2012 period, compared to the equivalent period in 2011.

Dunnes increased its market share from 23.9 per cent to 24.3 per cent, while Aldi grew its share from 4.7 per cent to 6.0 per cent – overtaking its discount rival Lidl in the process, the first time it has done so.

Tesco remained the most popular supermarket chain in the 12 weeks running up to Sunday 23 December, maintaining its share at 27.8 per cent, while Dunnes’ share of 24.3 per cent cements its second-place status.

Both SuperValu and Superquinn saw their share of the market fall by 0.3 per cent when compared to the equivalent 12-week period of 2011; SuperValu’s share of the market is now 10.5 per cent, while Superquinn’s is 5.1 per cent, making it the smallest of the six main supermarket chains in Ireland.

Aldi’s year-on-year gain is the highest of any supermarket; its 1.3 per cent increase equates to a 30 per cent increase in sales on a year-on-year basis.

Lidl’s share meanwhile grew by 0.1 per cent to 5.9 per cent.

Kantar’s figures also showed that the grocery market grew by 0.3 per cent between the two Christmas seasons, slightly offsetting the losses made by SuperValu and Superquinn.

Read: Why half of the world’s food goes to waste