SATURATION AND INTERNATIONALIZATION: THE FUTURE OF GROCERY RETAILING IN THE UK

Explores the future development of the “big five” UK grocery retailers and their response to the challenges of the next decade. Presents the results of a survey of manufacturers, analysts and retailers, in which saturation and internationalization are the key themes. Recounts how UK grocery retailers have not been in the forefront of international retail activity – both non‐food UK retailers, and continental European food retailers, have established stronger international profiles. Suggests that the prospect of a saturated UK grocery market faces the “big five”, and addresses the question: when will opportunities in the UK become marginal, and how will retailers react to that prospect?