The German-owned discount supermarket Lidl has declared a "record-breaking" Christmas trading period for 2025, driven by an unprecedented influx of customers seeking value. The retailer's UK operation saw sales jump by 10 per cent, with turnover exceeding £1.1 billion in the crucial four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.
Unprecedented Shopper Numbers and Festive Bestsellers
Nearly 51 million customers passed through Lidl's doors during the festive run-up, marking an 8 per cent increase on the previous year and representing almost four million additional shoppers. The busiest single day was 23 December, though the company noted that festive preparations started earlier than ever. A staggering 30 million mince pies were sold from September onwards.
The final week before Christmas saw a 70 per cent year-on-year surge in seasonal produce sales, totalling 11,000 tonnes. Easy-peeler clementines were particularly popular, with sales up by nearly 40 per cent. The retailer's Comte de Senneval Champagne, priced at £9.99 for Lidl Plus members, experienced a remarkable 260 per cent sales increase in its busiest week. Its revamped Deluxe party food range also saw triple-digit growth.
Loyalty Scheme and Expansion Drive Growth
Ryan McDonnell, chief executive of Lidl GB, credited the success to sustained investment in low prices and British sourcing. "2025 was a record-breaking Christmas for Lidl – with more customers choosing to shop with us than ever before," he stated. The company's Lidl Plus loyalty scheme was a significant factor, with a 28 per cent jump in active members during November.
Lidl, which opened around 40 new stores in 2025 to bring its total UK estate to over 1,000, is now Britain's sixth-largest grocery chain. According to industry experts at Worldpanel, it has made the biggest market share gains in the sector recently. McDonnell confirmed the group would "continue to grow our footprint," with analysts suggesting it could overtake rival Morrisons for fifth place if its current momentum holds.
Setting the Pace for Retail Updates
This strong performance, which outperforms the 7 per cent growth recorded in the same period a year earlier, fires the starting gun on the crucial festive trading updates from the retail sector. Supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury's are set to report next week, alongside other major retailers like Next and Marks & Spencer. Lidl's results underscore the ongoing shift in consumer behaviour towards discounters, especially during cost-conscious festive periods.
