Mintel last examined the UK variety stores sector in June 2003, as part of an analysis of the whole mixed goods retailing sector. Variety stores are sufficiently different to department stores to warrant a separate report. They are subject to different market conditions, being generally more price-led than the department stores, and operate on a different retail model.

The UK variety stores sector contains a number of well-known UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer, considered a bellwether of the whole UK retailing industry, and Woolworths, one of the longest-established features of the UK high street. Boots the Chemists is included in the definition of variety stores for the purposes of this report, having a sufficiently diverse product range to merit inclusion, despite a recent focus back on its core health and beauty ranges. The raft of value retailers in the sector, including Poundland, Poundstretcher and Wilkinson Hardware are also included.

Mintel last examined the UK variety stores sector in June 2003, as part of an analysis of the whole mixed goods retailing sector. Variety stores are sufficiently different to department stores to warrant a separate report. They are subject to different market conditions, being generally more price-led than the department stores, and operate on a different retail model.

The UK variety stores sector contains a number of well-known UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer, considered a bellwether of the whole UK retailing industry, and Woolworths, one of the longest-established features of the UK high street. Boots the Chemists is included in the definition of variety stores for the purposes of this report, having a sufficiently diverse product range to merit inclusion, despite a recent focus back on its core health and beauty ranges. The raft of value retailers in the sector, including Poundland, Poundstretcher and Wilkinson Hardware are also included.

This new research from Mintel provides a unique examination of all the key industry issues, including:

The competition facing these retailers, in the form of specialist retailers in every product category the variety stores cover, and of course supermarkets.

Asda’s recent announcement that it is to open two non-food-only stores is a wake-up call for the variety retailers, which are already aware of the impact of the grocery multiples’ expansion into their territory.

The development of wider product ranges by specialists such as Next, which has gone into homewares, and by the development of online mixed goods channels such as Amazon UK, which has extended its product offer well beyond its original book retailing proposition.

The extent to which variety stores are successfully defending their sales, and what strategies are in place at the different retailers to continue to grow sales in the future.