Tesco like-for-like sales growth slows to 0.9% in second quarter as profit outlook is raised
Tesco reported half-year results on 8 October: like-for-like sales up 1% over the half, with second-quarter growth slowing to 0.9%. It raised its full-year profit guidance and cited an uncertain external backdrop.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Tesco reported first-half results on Thursday 8 October, with like-for-like sales growth of 0.9% in the second quarter, down from 1% in the first, according to City A.M. City A.M.RC “The FTSE 100 grocer posted like-for-like sales growth of 0.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year, marking a further slowdown from the previous quarter’s lower-than-expected one per cent growth.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard reported that sales excluding fuel and VAT totalled £33.8 billion for the 26 weeks to August 29, 1% higher like-for-like than a year earlier and 1.5% higher in the UK alone. Evening StandardN “The UK’s biggest supermarket chain said sales, excluding fuel and VAT, totalled £33.8 billion for the 26 weeks to August 29.”“Sales were 1% higher when compared like-for-like with the same period last year, and 1.5% higher in the UK alone.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Chief executive Ken Murphy said: "Against an uncertain external backdrop, we have continued to invest in giving customers the very best value for money." City A.M.RC ““Against an uncertain external backdrop, we have continued to invest in giving customers the very best value for money.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Evening StandardN ““Against an uncertain external backdrop, we have continued to invest in giving customers the very best value for money.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Tesco said consumer confidence had been "relatively resilient" but that "ongoing political tensions continue to create uncertainty", which was translating into demand for a better-value weekly shop. City A.M. linked the cautious mood to fears that the Iran war could push food prices up. Evening StandardN “Consumer confidence has been “relatively resilient” but “ongoing political tensions continue to create uncertainty”, the company said, which was translating to demand for a better value weekly shop.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ City A.M.RC “amid fears that the Iran war could send food prices soaring.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Centre · 1Online sales in the UK rose 8.4%, and sales at its rapid-delivery service Whoosh rose 37%. Sales of the premium "Finest" range rose 9% in the UK, and fuel sales rose by nearly a fifth, which Tesco attributed to higher oil prices. Evening StandardN “Online sales surged by 8.4% in the UK with average grocery orders growing, and sales for its rapid delivery arm Whoosh soaring by 37%.”“fuel sales surged by nearly a fifth year-on-year which it attributed to higher oil prices pushing up the cost for consumers.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The Evening Standard said adjusted operating profit rose 6.3% to £1.8 billion, and that Tesco now expects full-year profit of £3.15 billion to £3.3 billion, up from a previous range of £3 billion to £3.3 billion. City A.M. reported pre-tax profit up 11.5% to £1.5bn, a different measure. Evening StandardN “The company revealed its adjusted operating profit jumped by 6.3% to £1.8 billon.”“it was now expecting profits of between £3.15 billion and £3.3 billion for the full year” Read at Evening Standard ↗ City A.M.RC “pre-tax profit jumped by 11.5 per cent to £1.5bn” Read at City A.M. ↗
Right · 1City A.M. said Tesco holds a 27.8% share of the UK grocery market, well ahead of Sainsbury's and Asda, but that its growth has faltered this year compared with 4.6% and 4% in the first two quarters of last year. City A.M.RC “The supermarket giant holds a dominant 27.8 per cent share of the UK’s grocery market, far beyond that of rivals Sainsbury’s and Asda, but has seen its growth falter so far this year.”“Last year, Tesco posted 4.6 and four per cent sales growth in the first two quarters of the year” Read at City A.M. ↗ Right · 1City A.M. also reported that Tesco is reportedly considering selling its operations in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Murphy did not comment on the reports and pointed to a 38% rise in operating profit in the central Europe business to £63m. City A.M.RC “Tesco is reportedly considering selling off its operations in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia”“Murphy did not comment on the rumours on Thursday, instead pointing to a 38 per cent jump in operating profit across what it calls its central Europe arm, to £63m.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the results as a positive: sales boosted by online shopping and a raised annual profit outlook, with consumers seeking value.
- Emphasis
- Online growth, Whoosh, the Finest range, fuel sales, and the raised profit guidance.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the 0.9% second-quarter figure, market share, or the reported sale of central European operations.
- Charged language
- “surged”“soaring”
- For example
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“Tesco has unveiled a jump in sales for the first half of the year amid an online shopping boost and raised its annual profit outlook” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the results as a slowdown, with an uncertain backdrop squeezing shoppers and growth faltering against last year.
- Emphasis
- The quarterly slowdown, the comparison with last year's growth, market share, Iran war price fears, and the possible central Europe sale.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the raised full-year profit guidance, online growth, or the half-year sales total.
- Charged language
- “failed to accelerate”“squeezing shoppers”“falter”
- For example
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“Tesco failed to accelerate its sales growth in the first half of this year as the UK’s biggest supermarket warned an “uncertain external backdrop” was squeezing shoppers.” — City A.M.
What every side reports
- Tesco reported half-year results on 8 October 2026.
- Like-for-like sales growth over the half was about 1%.
- Ken Murphy cited an 'uncertain external backdrop' and a focus on value for money.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the results show weakness or strength
- Centre
- The Evening Standard leads with an online-driven sales jump and a raised profit outlook, while noting that economic uncertainty is weighing on consumers.
- Right
- City A.M. leads with sales that 'edge lower' and fail to accelerate, with the 0.9% second-quarter figure a further slowdown.
Tesco organisation
Tesco says it is investing in value for money and innovation amid an uncertain external backdrop, and says its strong half supports a raised full-year profit outlook.
“launching over 800 new and improved products during the half.” — City A.M.
“Tesco said a strong financial performance for the first half meant it was now expecting profits of between £3.15 billion and £3.3 billion for the full year” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Tesco sales boosted by online shopping as consumers hunt for ‘value’
Mixed Leads with online-driven growth and raised profit guidance, while noting cautious consumers.
Right1 article
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Tesco sales edge lower as ‘uncertain backdrop’ weighs on shoppers
Critical Frames the results as a sales slowdown under pressure from an uncertain backdrop, with rumoured disposals added.
- 8 Oct 07:27 First City A.M.RC Tesco sales edge lower as ‘uncertain backdrop’ weighs on shoppers
- 8 Oct 07:42 +14m Evening StandardN Tesco sales boosted by online shopping as consumers hunt for ‘value’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.