Aldi and Lidl continue to show strong sales growth, according to the latest results.

Published in the latest grocery share figures from Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks ending 5 January 2014, Aldi recorded 29.4% year-on-year sales growth, holding 4% market share, up from 3.1% in 2013.

Lidl reported 17.5% growth, with market share increasing by 0.4% from 2.7% in 2013 to 3.1%.

Elsewhere, Sainsbury’s showed year-on-year growth of 3.1%, with market share remaining at 17.1% from the same period last year.

The Co-operative registered modest sales growth of 0.4%, while Tesco revealed a market share of 29.6%, down from 30.4% in 2013, and 0.2% growth.

Waitrose saw an increase in market share to 4.8% from 4.7% last year, seeing 6.4% year-on-year sales growth.

The online, convenience and premium sectors also performed well, with total internet grocery sales increasing by 22%, with 15% of British households placing orders.

Edward Garner, director at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “Among the big four, only Sainsbury’s was able to resist the relentless pressure from the discounters and Waitrose. Now catching up with Asda, it managed to hold share and out-perform the market with year-on-year growth of 3.1%.”

Garner added that the absence of an online offering contributed to the decline of Morrisons’ share, dropping from 12% last year to 11.5%, with a decline in overall sales of 1%. With Morrisons now offering deliveries via Ocado in the Midlands, he hinted that this might help the company return to growth.

Kantar Worldpanel said that grocery price inflation stood at 2.5%, the lowest level since October 2012.

“Despite challenging market conditions, it was a ‘premium’ Christmas with both Tesco Finest and Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference ranges strongly out-performing their respective ‘Value’ equivalents,” said Garner.

The group also reported that its supermarket share app has been relaunched. Optimised for iPad, iPhone and Android, it includes data and intelligence from Great Britain, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.