This statistic shows the trend in the volume of sales (quantity bought) across all retailing sectors in Great Britain monthly from January 2017 to January 2025. Retail sales volumes have generally increased until April 2021, except during the first months of 2020, when a low index value of 77 was reached in April 2020, and again in the beginning of 2021. After April 2021, retail sales volume started to have a decreasing trend. As of December 2025, volume of retail sales was measured at an index level of 97.5. The figures are seasonally adjusted estimates, measured using the Retail Sales Index (RSI) and published in index form with a reference year of 2019 equal to 100.

A series of retail sales data for Great Britain in value and volume terms, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted.

From 2008 to 2022, the total annual turnover of businesses within the UK retail trade has grown considerably. In 2022, turnover from retail trade activities reached over 490 billion British pounds.

UK retail market is leading the way in industry innovation, whether it's high-end retail, sustainable fashion, mobile retailing, or tech capabilities.

The total value of retail sales, including fuel, reached a peak value of approximately 515 billion British pounds in 2024. For the retail industry excluding fuel sales, this figure similarly indicated a record value that year.   UK retail business as usual   Generally, retail sales in the UK displayed steady growth with the exception of 2009, when annual sales experienced a noticeable drop. Forecasts project that both store-based and e-commerce sales will continue their steep increase by 2026, with online sales reaching over 200 billion British pounds by that period.    Holiday spending: industry’s best friend   When we look at the monthly breakdown of retail sales value, an unmistakably clear picture of rigorous holiday spending greets us. December is the month when retail has its best days. This was particularly true in December 2024, when the sales value of retail in Great Britain was recorded at over 60 billion British pounds.

A first estimate of retail sales in value and volume terms for Great Britain, seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted.

This statistic shows average weekly retail sales (excluding automotive fuel) in Great Britain per month from January 2017 to February 2024. In February 2024, an average of approximately 6.88 billion British pounds worth of sales were made across all retailing sectors in Great Britain. Compared to the average weekly retail sales including automotive fuel sales, these figures were naturally lower.

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UK Grocery Retail Market Size 2025-2029

The UK grocery retail market size is valued to increase USD 56.2 billion, at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2024 to 2029. Rapid urbanization and rising consumer spending will drive the UK grocery retail market.

Major Market Trends & Insights

By Product - Food and beverages segment was valued at USD 176.60 billion in 2022
By Distribution Channel - Hypermarkets and supermarkets segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2022
CAGR : 3.8%

Market Summary

The Grocery Retail Market in the UK is a dynamic and evolving sector, characterized by the adoption of core technologies and innovative applications. With rapid urbanization and rising consumer spending, grocery retailers are investing in advanced technologies such as automation, AI, and robotics to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience. For instance, the use of self-checkout kiosks and mobile apps for contactless shopping has surged in popularity, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market also faces challenges, including the threat from counterfeit grocery products. According to a report by the Food Standards Agency, around 10% of all food and drink products sold in the UK are believed to be counterfeit.
To mitigate this issue, regulatory bodies are implementing stricter regulations and collaborating with retailers to ensure product authenticity. Despite these challenges, opportunities abound for grocery retailers in the UK. The market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, with online grocery sales projected to reach 15% of the total market share by 2025. Innovative store layouts and offerings, such as click-and-collect services and subscription-based models, are also gaining popularity among consumers. Overall, the Grocery Retail Market in the UK is a continuously unfolding landscape, shaped by a complex interplay of technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and consumer preferences.

What will be the Size of the UK Grocery Retail Market during the forecast period?

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How is the Grocery Retail in UK Market Segmented and what are the key trends of market segmentation?

The grocery retail in UK industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Product

  Food and beverages
  Non food


Distribution Channel

  Hypermarkets and supermarkets
  Convenience stores
  Discount stores
  Online
  Others


Sales Channel

  In-Store
  Online Delivery
  Click-and-Collect


Consumer Segment

  Urban Consumers
  Rural Consumers
  Premium Shoppers


Product Types

  Fresh Produce
  Packaged Foods
  Household Goods
  Health and Beauty


Geography

  Europe

    UK

By Product Insights

The food and beverages segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

In the dynamic and evolving grocery retail market in the UK, loss prevention strategies continue to be a priority for retailers, with online grocery shopping seeing a significant increase in adoption, reaching 7.1% of total sales in 2020. Sales promotion techniques, such as promotional pricing models and loyalty programs, are essential tools to attract and retain customers. Food safety regulations play a crucial role in ensuring product quality and consumer trust. Stock rotation and inventory optimization are essential for maintaining freshness and reducing waste. Automated checkout systems and self-checkout kiosks streamline the shopping experience, while e-commerce platforms enable seamless online ordering and last mile delivery.

Product traceability and quality control measures are vital for ensuring the authenticity and safety of goods. Retail technology integration, including demand forecasting and data analytics dashboards, enables retailers to optimize store operations efficiency and adapt to changing consumer behavior. Customer service metrics, such as response times and resolution rates, are key performance indicators for maintaining customer satisfaction. The grocery market is expected to grow further, with online sales projected to reach 11.7% of total sales by 2025. The adoption of advanced technologies, such as RFID tagging, AI-driven demand forecasting, and warehouse automation, will continue to transform the industry.

Category management techniques and waste reduction initiatives will help retailers optimize their offerings and reduce costs. The foods and beverages segment, which includes fresh and frozen meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and snack foods, is a significant contributor to the market's growth. The most preferred grocery products in this segment include fresh bread, salty snacks, and ce

Internet sales in Great Britain by store type, month and year.

The report covers UK Online Retail Debit Card Payment Market, Total Number of Retail Categories UK Online Retail Market.t, UK Online Retail Pet Care Market, UK Online Retail Consumer Electronics Market.

The annual retail sales volume in household goods stores in Great Britain were worth approximately 30.9 billion British pounds in 2023. This was a decrease from the previous year, when the value stood at roughly 32.6 billion.

With consumers placing increasing importance on companies’ environmental credentials, what are UK retailers doing to make their operations more sustainable?

Standard error reference tables for the Retail Sales Index in Great Britain.

The UK AI in retail market size reached USD 466.99 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 2,201.19 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 18.80% during 2025-2033. The market is driven by increasing innovations in technology that enhance retail operations and customer experiences, along with the expanding e-commerce industry, which is catalyzing the need for seamless shopping interactions in the UK.

Total sales and average weekly spending estimates for each retail sector in Great Britain in thousands of pounds.

IBISWorld assesses how social distancing has affected the UK retail sector and how changing consumer behaviour is expected to influence retailing activity in the long term.

This statistic shows the trend in the volume of retail sales (quantity bought) split by large and small retail businesses in Great Britain from 2010 to 2022. Between 2010 and 2022 the volume of sales per week decreased for both large and small retailers, reaching indexed values of 99.4 and 102.3, respectively.

UK Retail Analytics Market growth is driven by increasingly digital and customer-centric, data analytics will be a key driver in enabling agility, personalization, and profitability across the sector.

Key information about United Kingdom Retail Sales Growth

• United Kingdom Retail Sales dropped 2.1 % YoY in May 2023, compared with a 3.3 % decrease in the previous month.
• UK Retail Sales Growth YoY data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1997 to May 2023, with an average growth rate of 2.4 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 40.9 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -22.9 % in Apr 2020.
• In the latest reports, Car Sales of UK recorded 1,943,572.0 units in Dec 2022, representing a drop of 5.1 %.

Market Size statistics on the Clothing Retailing industry in the UK