The family business is thought to have stolen a march on its rivals Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's and is expected to reveal the biggest like-for-like sales growth of the season.

Analysts expect these to have risen by as much as 7% during the six weeks to January 6 after the latest research from TNS Worldpanel showed the group increased its market share from 11% to 11.4% last month.

Last week Tesco finance and strategy director, Andrew Higginson, confirmed that Morrisons had stolen ground from its competitors when he told the markets: "Morrisons had a better Christmas than everyone".

Tesco revealed below forecast sales growth of 3.1%.

Clive Black, retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: "Morrisons should confirm that it has been the food retail star for 2007, at least in terms of like-for-like sales growth. Morrisons' chief executive Marc Bolland has demonstrated his strong marketing credentials with excellent advertising, backed up by the ongoing outstanding store execution and a major promotional campaign."

Analysts at Goldman Sachs said: "The refreshing of new stores this year and the aggressive advertising campaigns over the past three months appear to be gaining traction with customers."

The results will be viewed as a turnaround for the chain, the fourth largest in Britain, after it struggled to integrate Safeway, the company it bought for £3bn in 2004. The problems led to a string of profits warnings in 2005 and last year Morrisons was forced to post the first loss in its 106-year history.

John Kershaw, analyst at Merrill Lynch, said: "Let's not get too carried away, yet. Morrisons' message may be better but its stores, systems and offer still require work."