Shoppers in Ireland are driving grocery sales higher as Christmas demand intensifies, despite a 6.0% grocery price inflation rate, down from 6.5% last month. Irish consumers are prioritizing quality and value over the lowest prices when stocking up on festive essentials. The latest data reveals that take-home grocery sales in Ireland rose by 4.5% in the four weeks to November 30, 2025, a slight decrease from the previous month's 5.5%. Despite rising prices, shoppers spent an additional €56 million on groceries but reduced their in-store time by 1.3% compared to the same period last year.
As Christmas approaches, convenience and speed are key. Shoppers are opting for ready-to-go gifts, quick meal solutions, and time-saving options. This presents a critical opportunity for brands and retailers to capture indulgent impulse purchases, ensuring they are well-stocked with popular big-day items and guaranteeing availability. The festive season is a time for indulgence, and shoppers are willing to splurge despite cost-of-living pressures. This is evident in their choices, with a rise in branded product sales, including an additional €96 million spent on branded ranges and €2.1 million on branded seasonal chocolate compared to last year.
Own-label products also performed strongly, with a 5.3% growth rate over the last 12 weeks, resulting in an additional €82.6 million spent. Premium own-label ranges saw even stronger growth at 10.7%, with shoppers spending an additional €13.8 million. However, the rising cost of Christmas dinner is a concern. While essential food prices are decreasing, turkey and seasonal sweet biscuits are becoming more expensive, pushing up the overall cost. Despite this, festive indulgence remains a priority for many shoppers, as evidenced by the 13.5% increase in chocolate prices, with almost a quarter of households still purchasing selection boxes in November.
The online grocery market continued to grow at a faster rate than last month, with a 6.7% year-on-year increase, capturing 6.2% of the market value. Shoppers spent an additional €14.4 million online, attributed to larger and more frequent trips. Dunnes Stores holds a 24.8% market share, up 5.2% year-on-year, with larger and more frequent trips contributing an additional €24.9 million. Tesco has a 24% market share with a 7.2% value growth, while SuperValu holds 19.3% with a 2.3% growth rate. Lidl, with a 13.5% market share, experienced the fastest growth at 9.4%, attracting new shoppers and increasing sales by €17.7 million. Aldi, with a 10.9% market share, saw a 2.5% growth, driven by increased store trips and new shoppers, resulting in an additional €8.8 million in sales.
