The 2024 RetailX UK Top500 is the tenth report in the series and maps shifts in the industry over the last decade, including the move towards ecommerce; buying across channels; and to an index where marketplaces and brands are ever-more important. Despite all the changes, one thing remains – Amazon’s Elite ranking.
Amazon is the only retailer to have featured consistently in the Elite group for the full ten years of this UK Top500 research. Since then, its UK business has changed from pureplay to multichannel retailer, marketplace and brand, while maintaining the convenience that has underpinned its services over the years.
It particularly stands out in this year’s Elite for its performance in mobile, convenient collection and delivery, and for its use of recommendations.
Apple has previously featured only once in the Leading category in the UK report, although its international performance has put it among the leaders in the RetailX Europe Top1000. The technology brand’s commitment to sustainability, married to a convenient fulfilment promise, has taken it into this year’s Elite group in the UK report.
Ikea has also previously stood out in RetailX’s European research but it now features in the UK Elite group for the first time, thanks to strong performances across value chains for its comprehensive approach to sustainability and fulfilment options.
Homewares and fashion retail brand Next returns to the Elite for the third time in the last decade, while it has also appeared six times in the Leading group. This year, it stands out across the value chains for reasons including its mobile app performance, its use of navigation and for convenient collection and returns options.
Screwfix is also in the Elite for the third time, while it has appeared in the Leading group five times. This year, it is a leader across value chains for its performance across sustainability indicators, for its convenient and fast delivery services, rental schemes and for its use of one-click ordering.
Read more: An exclusive interview with Sue Harries, digital, proposition and data director at Screwfix
Tesco this year makes its sixth appearance in the Elite after being in the Leading group on four previous occasions. This year, it stands out for a comprehensive approach to fulfilment, for the use of its mobile app and for its recommendations strategy.
Leading retailers
The Leading retailers in this year’s report are adapting quickly to meet the needs of shoppers who may have less disposable income to spend but when they do spend, still expect the convenience to which they have become accustomed.
Supermarkets Asda and Sainsbury’s sit alongside general merchandise retailers and department stores Argos, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis & Partners.
Fashion dominates the list, represented by retail brands Asos, River Island, Joules, New Look, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters and Zara, footwear retailer Schuh, and sports and outdoor fashion retailers JD Sports and The North Face.
Homewares retailers Dunelm and Victoria Plum and technology brands HP and Samsung complete this year’s Leading group.
See the full 500 list by downloading the 10th edition of the report.
Throughout the pages of this report, we map out how, for many retailers, the balance of retailing over the last ten years of our UK Top500 analysis has changed. Some have moved from store-first to digital-first while others have moved from pureplay to multichannel retailing. We’ve also seen brands and marketplaces grow their positions in the market, the former now accounting for half of the Top500 by number, the latter for more than half of traffic to the Top500.
This report charts performance that has improved so strongly over a decade, it’s raised the bar for all those who sell, or plan on selling, in this market.
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