Sainsburys first half 2025-26 results show steady progress across the business.
Sainsbury’s has shared its results for the first half of its 2025/26 financial year, covering the 28 weeks to 13 September 2025.
Sales went up, profit stayed strong, and the supermarket will return more money to shareholders.
The company said its focus on value, quality, and service helped it grow faster than the market for the fifth year in a row.
Key Numbers
| Item | 2025/26 (first half) | 2024/25 (first half) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail sales (excl. fuel) | £15.6 billion | £14.9 billion | +4.8% |
| Grocery sales | Up 5.3% | — | — |
| General merchandise & clothing | Up 3.3% | — | — |
| Argos sales | Up 2.3% | — | — |
| Retail profit | £504 million | £503 million | Same |
| Profit after tax | £165 million | £76 million | +117% |
| Interim dividend | 4.1p per share | 3.9p | +5% |
| Cash returned to shareholders this year | Over £800 million | — | — |
Food Leads The Growth
Food continues to drive Sainsbury’s success.
Grocery sales rose by 5.3%, with more customers choosing Sainsbury’s for quality and price.
The Taste the Difference range performed strongly, with over 600 new products launched this summer.
Premium ready meals and dine-in dishes grew nearly 40% as more shoppers chose restaurant-style meals at home.
Sainsbury’s also extended its Aldi Price Match to around 800 key lines and expanded Nectar Prices to every supermarket checkout.
Customers saved an average of £14 on a weekly shop over £80.
Online grocery sales grew 11.4%, while convenience stores rose 5.2%.
Six new supermarkets and twelve new convenience stores opened in the first half of the year, with more planned.
Other Parts Of The Business
Argos sales went up 2.3%.
More than 80% of Argos sales are now made online.
Tu Clothing grew by 7.8%, staying ahead of the UK clothing market for the fifth quarter in a row.
Sainsbury’s Smart Charge electric vehicle network also expanded.
It now operates in 79 locations with more than 650 charging bays across the UK.
Work With Farmers And Communities
Sainsbury’s continues to support British farmers and suppliers.
It invested £9 million in its Dairy Development Group, which helps 150 dairy farms manage higher costs and new rules.
All by Sainsbury’s black tea is now Fairtrade, making Sainsbury’s the UK’s largest retailer of Fairtrade tea.
This change will give tea farmers over £1 million a year in Fairtrade Premium payments.
The company also worked with a group of women coffee farmers in Colombia to make farming more climate-friendly and strengthen supply chains.
Through Comic Relief, Sainsbury’s helped fund one million meals for families during summer and pledged £3 million more for winter food support.
Returns For Shareholders
Sainsbury’s will pay a special dividend of 11p per share on 19 December 2025, after completing the sale of its banking business.
It will also add £150 million in new share buybacks on top of the £200 million already planned.
The supermarket now expects to return over £800 million to shareholders this financial year.
Why It Matters
The Sainsburys first half 2025–26 results show how the company is balancing low prices with good quality and strong supplier ties.
By keeping price rises lower than competitors, investing in its own-label ranges, and growing online and convenience sales, Sainsbury’s is keeping its lead in the UK grocery market.
The results also show how supermarkets are becoming more digital and more focused on loyalty programmes like Nectar, which give suppliers and brands better ways to reach customers.
For the food industry, it highlights steady demand for trusted supermarket brands even in a tight economy.
Note: All information verified from the official Sainsbury’s site and company investor report.
