UK Supermarkets by Revenue: Top 10 Ranking 2026

The United Kingdom grocery market remains one of Europe’s largest and most structurally concentrated retail systems. Total food and grocery sales exceed £230 billion annually, with the top operators controlling the majority of spend across supermarkets, convenience, online fulfilment and wholesale-linked formats.

Inflation pressures eased through 2024, but cost structures remain elevated. Labour costs increased following changes to National Insurance contributions from April 2025. Energy volatility, private label expansion and aggressive promotional activity continue to shape competitive positioning. Within this environment, revenue scale remains the clearest indicator of structural power.

This ranking of UK supermarkets by revenue is based on the most recently available full-year financial disclosures (FY2024–FY2025 where available). Figures reflect reported turnover and are aligned to company fiscal calendars.

Revenue Ranking Overview

*Aldi UK’s latest published turnover reflects FY2023 at time of writing.

1. Tesco

Founded: 1919
Headquarters: Welwyn Garden City

Tesco remains the largest supermarket operator in the UK by revenue and market share. With turnover exceeding £61 billion in its FY2024 financial year, the retailer maintains significant dominance across grocery retail.

Core categories:

• Fresh food

• Ambient grocery

• Private label (including Finest and Everyday Value tiers)

• Online grocery

• Wholesale (Booker integration)

Tesco operates thousands of UK stores across Extra, Superstore, Express and One Stop formats. The integration of Booker continues to reinforce wholesale and convenience reach, strengthening supply chain control across independent retailers.

Operationally, Tesco’s scale influences packaging procurement, supplier negotiation leverage and private label development across categories. The retailer maintains one of the largest private label portfolios in Europe.

Strategically, Tesco has prioritised price investment, loyalty-led personalisation through Clubcard and continued automation within distribution centres.

2. Sainsbury’s

Founded: 1869
Headquarters: London

Sainsbury’s reported £32.7 billion in turnover in FY2024, positioning it as the UK’s second-largest supermarket by revenue.

Core categories:

• Full-line supermarket retail

• Convenience (Local format)

• Online grocery

• General merchandise (Argos integration)

The acquisition of Argos continues to shape multi-channel strategy, although grocery remains the dominant revenue driver.

Sainsbury’s maintains a balanced store estate of supermarkets and convenience locations, reinforcing urban coverage.

Operationally, the business is investing in cost savings programmes while balancing price competitiveness with brand positioning.

3. Asda

Founded: 1949
Ownership: Issa brothers and TDR Capital

Asda generated approximately £21.7 billion in revenue in FY2024.

Core categories:

• Large-format supermarket

• Value private label

• George clothing

• Pharmacy and health

Asda’s large hypermarket-style formats provide broad general merchandise exposure alongside grocery.

Recent refinancing activity and debt restructuring reflect the company’s capital structure focus. Competitive repositioning in price-led segments continues as discounters expand market share.

4. Aldi UK

Founded in UK: 1990
Parent: Aldi Süd

Aldi UK recorded revenue of £17.9 billion in FY2023. The retailer continues rapid estate expansion.

Core categories:

• Limited assortment grocery

• Private label dominant model

• Fresh produce focus

Aldi’s operational model is built on SKU simplification, lean logistics and strong own-brand penetration.

The retailer plans significant expansion toward 1,500 UK stores long term.

Discount-led formats continue to exert structural pressure on mid-market operators.

5. Morrisons

Founded: 1899
Ownership: Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)

Morrisons reported £15.28 billion turnover in FY2024.

Core categories:

• Fresh food manufacturing

• Supermarket retail

• Convenience (Morrisons Daily)

Unlike most competitors, Morrisons retains vertical integration in fresh manufacturing. It operates food production facilities supplying its own retail estate.

This integration gives supply chain resilience but requires capital intensity.

Strategic focus includes convenience expansion and wholesale supply agreements.

6. Lidl GB

Entered UK: 1994
Parent: Schwarz Group

Lidl GB reported £11.0 billion in revenue for FY2024.

Core categories:

• Discount grocery

• High private label penetration

• Seasonal promotional cycles

Lidl continues aggressive estate growth and capital investment in distribution.

The Schwarz Group’s broader European scale supports sourcing leverage.

7. Co-op Food

Founded: 19th century cooperative movement

The Co-operative Group reported £11.3 billion in food retail revenue in FY2024.

Core categories:

• Convenience grocery

• Community retail

• Own-label products

The Co-op’s estate is heavily weighted toward smaller urban and neighbourhood formats.

The model prioritises accessibility over hypermarket scale.

Operationally, convenience density provides last-mile presence in areas underserved by large-format chains.

8. Waitrose

Founded: 1904
Ownership: John Lewis Partnership

Waitrose reported £8.0 billion revenue in FY2024.

Core categories:

• Premium grocery

• Fresh and prepared foods

• Branded and speciality products

Waitrose maintains premium positioning and strong brand equity.

Operational strategy emphasises quality differentiation rather than price-led competition.

9. M&S Food

Founded: 1884 (Food division modern expansion)

Marks & Spencer’s Food division generated approximately £7 billion in FY2024.

Core categories:

• Prepared meals

• Fresh food

• Premium convenience

M&S has reshaped its estate through partnerships with Ocado in online grocery.

Food now represents a structural growth engine within the group.

10. Iceland Foods

Founded: 1970

Iceland reported turnover of £4.1 billion in FY2025.

Core categories:

• Frozen food

• Private label

• Value grocery

Iceland operates under both Iceland and The Food Warehouse formats.

The company maintains a distinct frozen-focused retail identity within the UK grocery system.

Market Structure Impact

The top ten supermarket operators account for the majority of UK grocery sales.

The “Big Four” — Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons — historically dominated the market. However, discounters Aldi and Lidl continue expanding share.

Convenience density through Co-op and symbol groups reinforces neighbourhood access, while premium positioning via Waitrose and M&S Food sustains category diversity.

Category Dominance Trends

Private label penetration remains structurally high.

Discounters operate almost entirely on own-brand models. Full-line supermarkets increasingly expand tiered private label architecture to defend margins.

Fresh produce, ready meals and value lines continue to shape category competition.

Online grocery penetration remains material but stabilised after pandemic-driven peaks.

Structural Outlook

Estate expansion continues among discounters.

Cost pressures linked to wage legislation and supply chain restructuring may influence pricing strategy.

Investment in automation, distribution efficiency and data analytics will shape long-term profitability.

The UK supermarket landscape remains highly concentrated, but format diversification continues.

Conclusion

Editor’s Note: All financial information in this article is based on publicly available company annual reports and disclosures for FY2023–FY2025 where available. Revenue figures reflect reported turnover aligned to each company’s fiscal calendar. Where division-level estimates are referenced, they are derived from published segment reporting.