Irish shoppers spent an extra €15 million on seasonal Easter confectionary this year, according to the latest data from Kantar.

Take-home value sales in Ireland over the four weeks to April 20, 2025 increased by 8.4% compared to the same period last year.

Kantar noted that grocery sales benefitted from Easter falling much later this year, helping to drive value growth during April.

Shoppers were in store 23 times on average, contributing an additional €9.7 million to the market’s overall performance.

Grocery price inflation stands at 4.91% over the 12 weeks to April 20, when compared with the same period last year.

The data shows that inflation levels are up 2.52 percentage points compared to last year.

Emer Healy, business development director at Kantar, said that "despite average prices continuing to rise, it’s clear that Irish consumers are still treating themselves".

"With Easter falling late this year, it’s been a real boost for retailers who have benefitted from special occasions including St Patrick’s Day, Pancake Day, Easter, and the May Bank Holiday.

"Shoppers also purchased more Easter eggs than last year, up 6.6%, with over 64% of Irish households buying one this year," she added.

The data noted that 43% of all Easter egg sales were made on promotion. However, promotional sales were not just for Easter eggs.

Favourite Easter fare is still evident with shoppers spending a combined additional €2.5 million on hot cross buns and lamb.

The total grocery market in Ireland saw an increase in promotions by 15.4% in the 12-weeks with shoppers spending an additional €109 million on promotional lines versus the same period last year.

Promotional sales currently hold 22.8% of total grocery spending compared to 20.8% last year.

Healy said that while price influences decisions, Irish shoppers still cherish quality, particularly when it comes to special occasions, such as Easter.

“This is evident with both branded (5.6%) and premium own label products (9.7%) growing faster than the market as a whole (5.5%).

"Our data shows that shoppers spent an additional €102m on these two ranges compared to last year.

"Ultimately, retailers need to demonstrate clear value to customers, but it’s a tricky balance especially as they are trying to manage their own rising business costs," she said.

April also saw a steep increase in alcohol sales, up 8.7% year-on-year. Shoppers spent an additional €8 million on beer and cider, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks versus last year.

Brighter and warmer days also boosted the performance of typical barbeque choices, with an extra combined €1.1 million spent on sausages, antipasti, coleslaw, and potato salad in April.

Over the 12-week period, the data found that online grocery sales were boosted by a 10% increase in shopping frequency and an influx of new customers.

More than 18% of Irish households shopped online for groceries during this time, with new shoppers and more frequent trips contributing a combined €22.8 million to overall performance.

In the 12 weeks to April 20, Dunnes holds 24.1% market share, Tesco holds 23.4% of the market, SuperValu holds 20.3%, Lidl holds 13.5%, and Aldi holds 11.5%.