Supermarket chain Somerfield today said tough competition and food price falls had hit first half like-for-like sales.

The Bristol-based group said total like-like sales had grown 0.6% in the 28 weeks to November 6 against 0.9% in the same period last year.

Somerfield saw its like-for-like figures drop to 0.9% from 2.2% previously, although Kwik Save boosted its sales by 0.1% against a 1% decline beforehand.

Chief executive Steve Back said the group had faced tougher competition, food price deflation and the effects of deflationary cost pressures on the disposable income of its customers.

However, Mr Back said the company was nevertheless pleased that Somerfield and Kwik Save had both achieved growth.

"Trading for the group overall has been in line with management expectations," he added.

Somerfield said in September that July and August sales had suffered from bad weather, with seasonal lines such as ice cream, beer and barbecue products most affected as sales came up against tough comparisons from last year's heatwave.

The group, which is the UK's sixth largest supermarket chain, has been involved in a battle to win back market share after hitting problems integrating Kwik Save.

It has been refurbishing its Somerfield stores and had converted 68 Kwik Save outlets to the Somerfield format by November 6. The group now has 1,224 stores, of which 701 are Somerfield and 523 are Kwik Save.

The group has bought a number of former Safeway Compact stores and converted 21 of them to the Somerfield format.

Mr Back said the acquisition added considerable new space for the group and represented an excellent opportunity to take advantage of its expertise in running smaller food supermarkets and its national distribution network.

"This deal is expected to be earnings-enhancing in the first full year of ownership and while it remains early days, we are pleased with the performance of the 21 ex-Safeway Compact stores now trading under the Somerfield fascia," he said.