Asda’s sales growth slowed over the crucial Christmas quarter as the supermarket waits for the outcome of a lengthy competition inquiry into its merger with rival Sainsbury’s.
The Walmart-owned chain posted a 1% rise in like-for-like sales for the three months to Dec 31 – the seventh consecutive quarter of positive growth.
However, while the lift in sales demonstrates the extent of Asda’s turnaround from the 7.5% sales tumble it posted in 2016 – the worst in its history – its rate of growth has slowed compared with the previous quarter. In November Asda reported a 2% rise in third quarter sales.
