UK roundup: latest market data and merger news

Here’s what you need to know about:

The Worldpanel by Numerator performance data to 30 November, the upcoming merger between Central and Midcounties Co-ops, the next phase in Poundland store rationalisation programme and Iceland’s shop-floor robot trial.

• Ocado continues impressive run of sales growth

• Members approve Central and Midcounties Co-ops merger

• Poundland announces more closures and reintroduces chilled to stores

• Iceland tests in-store robot to boost retail media offer

Ocado continues impressive run of sales growth

Ocado Retail once again leads the market for growth in the latest Worldpanel by Numerator (formerly Kantar Worldpanel) sales data for the 12 weeks to 30 November. The total market grew 3.6%, with Ocado’s sales increasing 15.8%. Sales grew 10.2% at Lidl, 8.9% at M&S, 5.1% at Sainsbury’s, 4.7% at Tesco, 4.1% at Aldi, and 4.0% at both Waitrose and Iceland. Morrisons sales increased 2.1%, while Co-op and Asda’s sales were down 1.4% and 4.3% respectively. 

IGD Senior Insight Analyst, Alex Rowberry‘s view:

Ocado’s impressive sales growth is rewarded with the retailer’s highest ever share of the grocery market, which now stands at 2.2%. Lidl has the highest overall increase in market share, growing 0.5 percentage points to 8.1%, while Asda’s troubles continue as it’s share drops 0.9 percentage points to 11.5%. Tesco maintains its market leading position, growing share 0.3 percentage points to 28.3%. 

Members approve Central and Midcounties Co-ops merger 

Members of both Central and Midcounties Co-operative societies have voted in favour of their proposed merger with the joint business coming into existence on 26 January 2026.  The move, announced in October will bring together two of the largest remaining regional co-ops in the UK, creating a consolidated bloc of operations in the English midlands. The reach of the combined societies will stretch from Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Bedfordshire in the South and West, across the Midlands, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire, to Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire in the North, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk in the East. Total turnover of the enlarged society will be in excess of £1.7bn, with the largest contribution coming from food retailing, operating from a portfolio of some 500 (mostly convenience) stores. The new society will be led by Debbie Robinson (currently Central CEO) while Midcounties CEO, Phil Ponsonby, will take on the role of CEO for integration.

IGD Insight Partner, Patrick Mitchell-Fox’s view:

This latest co-op merger comes in the wake of the transfer of the Chelmsford Star Co-op into Central in August and is a further step in a consolidation process within the UK co-operative movement that is as almost old as the movement itself. This current bout of mergers is a response to significant challenges for these regional operators as they seek greater scale, efficiency and resilience to face into intense trading competition as well as operational threats such as this year’s cyber-attack on the national Co-op. As well as disrupting Co-op’s own operations the impact of the cyber-attack was also felt by the regional societies to which it provides buying and logistical services. 

Poundland announces more closures and reintroduces chilled to stores 

Under its new ownership, discounter Poundland continues to close stores, with 33 more set to cease operations by early 2026. This is part of the plan to close up to 150 stores in an attempt to turn around performance, which has struggled significantly over the last few years. A reduced chilled offering of circa 60 SKUs will now be available, while the frozen and online offering, as well as the loyalty scheme, have been removed.

IGD Senior Insight Analyst, Michela Pearson’s view:

Poundland’s new owners are continuing to bring changes to the business, simplifying the price structure and perfecting the assortment to better suit shopper needs. However, a reduced assortment in the FMCG space will not help it stand out against competitors like Home Bargains, who has developed an assortment catered to a bigger shop, and expanded its private label offering significantly across grocery categories. Poundland will still have to fight to win shopper trust back, especially with a reduced network. 

There have been many changes to discounter networks in the UK. For more on this topic, read our latest article.

Iceland tests in-store robot to boost retail media offer 

Iceland is testing an in-store robot as a possible new proposition for its retail media network. The robot, a repurposed hospitality robot from NEOS Robotics, is currently being trialled at its innovation store in Deeside. The fully autonomous unit displays products, promotes offers and encourages shoppers to sign up to Iceland’s Bonus Card loyalty scheme.  

IGD Senior Insight Analyst, Alex Rowberry‘s view:

Retailers face the prospect of digital screens losing their impact on shoppers as they become an increasingly common sight in stores. The use of interactive robots could be a way to overcome this, potentially being used in conjunction with digital screens as a way to interrupt and engage with shoppers in a unique way.

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