The Retail Week Awards 2025 shortlist has been revealed

Sponsored by Salesforce, the awards recognise and reward the extraordinary efforts of retail colleagues – shopworkers, delivery drivers and headquarters staff – and the retailers themselves. 

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on March 20, 2025, as it returns to the prestigious Grosvenor House in London.

A new category, the EV Cargo Digital Excellence Award, has been introduced this year to reflect the evolving digital landscape and celebrate the cutting-edge technology initiatives being piloted by the UK’s best retailers. And this year, new shops will be in the spotlight more than ever before thanks to a record number of entries. Gongs for the Best New Store Award will be up for grabs across two categories: small and medium/large stores. 

Retail Week editor-in-chief Charlotte Hardie said: “As we reach the 30th year of The Retail Week Awards, the last 12 months have been marked by persistent inflation, supply chain pressures, and shifting consumer spending patterns, but British retailers have shown remarkable adaptability and continued to push boundaries. The overwhelming response to this year’s entries tells a powerful story – not just of resilience, but of people coming together to create excellence, even when times are tough.

“The calibre of submissions has been exceptional, highlighting true retail champions at every level – from the frontline workers who maintain their dedication despite increased workplace pressures and customer tensions, to the leadership teams successfully navigating their organisations through economic turmoil. In every submission, we see the beating heart of British retail, proving that even in challenging times, it’s the people who make this industry truly extraordinary.”

Headline sponsor Salesforce said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring the Retail Week Awards for the ninth consecutive year.”

“Over nearly a decade, this prestigious spot has given us a front-row seat to the remarkable highs and lows that have shaped the retail industry. From the rise of ecommerce giants to the challenges faced by brick-and-mortar stores, the retail sector has undergone profound change in this time. Economic fluctuations, changing consumer preferences, and the impact of global events (including a lockdown or two) have all played pivotal roles – and the growth of generative AI and the rapidly changing technology landscape is sure to keep us all on our toes for the next decade too.”

Retailers can book tables now to join the celebration. Not a retailer and want to join the party? Enquire here

The 2025 shortlist 

The Responsible Retailer Award

Boots

Co-op

Currys

eBay

John Lewis Partnership

Ocado Retail

Reskinned

Scamp & Dude

Seasalt

Wolf & Badger

 

The Salesforce Customer Experience Gamechanger Award

Bensons for Beds

Cloud Nine

Co-op

Holland & Barrett

John Lewis Partnership

New Look

Radley

Sweaty Betty

Vision Express

 

The Best New Store Award – Small/Medium

American Golf, Norwich

Astrid & Miyu, Carnaby Street, London

Boots Opticians, York

B&Q Local, Brighton

Central Co-op, Bury St Edmonds

Hammonds Fitted Furniture, York

PureSeoul, Westfield White City, London

Søstrene Grene, Oxford Street, London

The Fragrance Shop, Oxford Street, London

Vision Express, Oxford Street, London

WHSmith, Birmingham Airport

 

The Best New Store Award – Large

Frasers Group, Norwich

Go Outdoors, York

Hugo Boss, Regent Street, London

Lush, Glasgow

NBA Store, Oxford Street, London

Pets at Home, Brentford, London

Sports Direct, Cardiff

 

The Green Initiative of the Year Award

Abel & Cole

Aldi

Amazon

AO

Asda

Co-op

Decathlon

Dr Martens

Lush

Nobody’s Child

THG

Waitrose

 

The Specialty Retailer of the Year Award

American Golf

Boots Opticians

Harding+

Jollyes

Majestic Wine

Radley

Sephora

Superdrug

The Entertainer

The Perfume Shop

Toolstation

 

The Fashion Retailer of the Year Award

AllSaints

Club L London

Nobody’s Child

Primark

Rixo

Seasalt

 

The Grocer of the Year Award

Aldi

Lidl

Ocado Retail

Sainsbury’s

Tesco

Waitrose

 

The Happiest Place to Work Award in association with the Retail Trust

Aldi

AllSaints

BP

Fat Face

Jollyes

Lakeland

Majestic Wine

Tesco

The Perfume Shop

Thomas Sabo

 

The Zebra Store Heroes Award

Shane Mojoo, store manager, BP, Mill End

David Brook, store manager, Co-op, Leeds

Elizabeth Goddard, store manager, Co-op, Preesall

Craig Smith, store manager, Cotton Traders

Doncaster Store team, Currys, Warrington

Jane Gower, store manager, Jollyes, Dartford

Trafford Centre store team, New Look, Manchester

Store team, Seasalt, Edinburgh

Sarlim Mohamed, general manager, and Camden store team, TK Maxx, London

 

The Distribution/Delivery Heroes Award

Ryan McBride, gas installation engineer, AO, Exeter

Michaela Knott, distribution centre team manager, Co-op, Newhouse

Trevor McKenna, service centre manager, and depot team, Dreams, Gartcosh

Warehouse and dispatch teams, Furniturebox, Chippenham and Warminster

Lee Kaufman, head of supply chain, Jollyes, Middlewich

Leslie Mitchell, customer delivery driver, Waitrose, Coulsdon

 

The Head Office Heroes Award

Jo Salisbury, head of contact centre transformation, and the contact centre transformation team, AO

Operational excellence team, Currys

International development team, Holland & Barrett

Retail tech projects/operational change team, Holland & Barrett

Frozen food HQ team, Jollyes

Simon Kehoe, product training manager, Majestic Wine

UK travel merchandising team, WHSmith

 

The Community Heroes Award

Joshua Griffiths, general manager’s assistant, Amazon, Liverpool

Alan Wrigley, customer adviser, B&Q, Oldham

Ian Cairns, store manager, Co-op, Mauchline

Nat Wilding, store manager, Co-op, Portland

Adele Jackson, store manager, and store team, Currys, Blackpool

Ghassan Hashim, managing director, Ecklee Supermarket, Motspur Park

Karen Cunningham, community champion, and Chris Lawlor, store manager, Henderson Retail, Lisburn

Your Co-op Food Walsall Town Centre team, Midcounties Co-operative, Walsall

 

The EV Cargo Digital Excellence Award

Ann Summers

Deliveroo

Harding+

Hobbycraft

Holland & Barrett

Morrisons

N Brown

Sainsbury’s

Screwfix

SportsShoes.com

Tesco

Wickes

 

The Best Retailer Under £250m Award

Cotton Traders

F. Hinds

Fortnum & Mason

Liberty

Nobody’s Child

Seasalt

Søstrene Grene

The Cotswold Company

 

The AlixPartners Best Retailer Over £250m Award

Aldi

AO

B&Q

EE

Lookfantastic

Ocado Retail

Primark

Screwfix

Superdrug

Tesco