Giles Hurley, Aldi CEO

Supermarket chain Aldi hit a record-breaking Christmas as sales smashed the £1 billion for the first time.

Sales in the four weeks to Christmas Eve were up 7.9% on the same time last year.

The German discount chain shifted 55 million mince pies, 22 million pigs in blankets, and more than two million Christmas puds.

Sales of British meat – turkey and beef – were up nearly 8%.

At the drinks counter, sparkling wine – prosecco to champagne – bubbled to more than 14%.

Total alcohol sales tipped 9.2%.

Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK, said:

“Sales of our ‘specially selected’ range had surpassed expectations – up almost 8% year-on-year.

“Customers snapped up these products for a fraction of the price they would have paid elsewhere.

“More customers than ever before shopped with us this Christmas because they knew Aldi offered unbeatable value on premium products and the lowest prices on festive essentials.”

Aldi is expanding rapidly in the UK, with plans to increase its 874 stores to 1,200 by 2025.

Its discount prices have lured shoppers away from the traditional “big four” supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s Asda and Morrisons.

Aldi now sits at number five.