Business
Trading Statement
Sainsbury's reported strong third-quarter trading for the 16 weeks to January 3, 2026, with total retail sales (excluding fuel) up 3.9% year-on-year, driven by a 5.4% increase in grocery sales. The company achieved grocery market share gains for the sixth consecutive Christmas, with fresh food sales growing 8% and the premium Taste the Difference brand seeing 15% growth. Despite a 1.1% decline in General Merchandise and Clothing, and a 1.0% drop at Argos, Sainsbury's maintained its outlook for Retail underlying operating profit exceeding £1 billion. The company also increased its Retail free cash flow guidance to over £550 million and reaffirmed its commitment to returning over £800 million to shareholders. Disclaimer*
About this update from J Sainsbury Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n9 January 2026\n \n \nThird Quarter Trading Statement for the 16 weeks to 3 January 2026\nInvestment in customer offer delivers significant Christmas market share gains\n \nSimon Roberts, Chief Executive of J Sainsbury plc, said:\n\"We have won grocery market share for the sixth consecutive Christmas period, again delivering our winning combination of value, quality, service and availability for customers. When we strengthened our profit guidance in November, we said we planned to invest in the strength of our competitive position through the most important trading period of the year. We expected the market to become more competitive with customers spending more carefully and we invested in balanced choices to offer great value for money, outstanding quality and innovation and leading customer service and availability, both in store and online.\n \n\"More customers switched to Sainsbury's, trusting us for both great value essentials and premium Taste the Difference products in their big Christmas shop and we were the only major grocer to grow items in the basket. We gave customers great value on a bigger range of products this year and more customers benefited from personalised Your Nectar Prices, available to every supermarket shopper for the first time. Fresh food sales grew by 8% and Taste the Difference was the fastest growing Premium Own Label brand in the market, with our best ever ranges of Christmas innovation driving Taste the Difference Fresh sales growth of 15%. \n \n\"My huge thanks go to all of our colleagues and suppliers - the strength of our availability, customer service and operational performance stood us apart in delivering our biggest ever Christmas. The entire team's hard work, care and commitment meant we were there for customers when it mattered most. We have real confidence in our momentum as we head into the final quarter and remain focused on helping our customers get great value for money and delivering for all our stakeholders.\"\n \n\n\n\n\n Sales Performance (YoY)\n\n\nQ3 - 16 weeks to 3 January 2026\n\n\nChristmas - 6 weeks to 3 January 2026\n\n\n\n\nSainsbury's\n\n\n4.9%\n\n\n4.6%\n\n\n\n\n Grocery\n\n\n5.4%\n\n\n5.1%\n\n\n\n\n General Merchandise + Clothing\n\n\n(1.1)%\n\n\n(1.0)%\n\n\n\n\nArgos\n\n\n(1.0)%\n\n\n...