UK grocery sales increased by 2.5% in the 12 weeks to 25 March 2018, despite adverse weather conditions hitting the country, according to the latest market share figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

"The Beast from the East played havoc with consumers’ usual shopping plans," said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel.

"In the run-up to and during the cold snap, shoppers stockpiled groceries, buying 4% more items than normal, increasing the average value of a trip from £14.99 to £15.80," McKevitt added. "However, they simultaneously visited stores 5% less often, as they stayed wrapped up at home, meaning: overall lost sales from the storm were minimised, to £22 million."