Retail industry sources

Trade associations

Following is a list of the main trade associations for the UK retail industry with links to their websites for more information.

British Retail Consortium (BRC) www.brc.org.uk
BRC is the UK's leading trade association for the retail industry and aims to speak on its behalf. The John Lewis Partnership is a major member. BRC's website is a good source of information for industry policies, statistics and general information.

Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) www.ccscheme.org.uk
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) is a national initiative to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements. The main areas of concern fall into three main categories: the environment, the workforce and the general public. The John Lewis Partnership is committed to registering all major construction projects in the scheme.

Employee Ownership Association (EOA) www.employeeownership.co.uk
EOA is a business association for companies who are substantially or wholly owned by the people who work for them, and the John Lewis Partnership is a member.

IGD www.igd.com
IGD is the main research organisation for the food retailing industry. IGD's website has a lot of useful information and facts and figures on the industry that are free to all users, as well as more detailed reports and information that you have to subscribe for.

IMRG www.imrg.org
IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) is the global industry body for online retailing, and the John Lewis Partnership is a significant member. IMRG's website is a good source of information about what's going on in online retailing, with a free press release section. It also displays a list of all its members. More detailed reports on the industry are available if you subscribe.

Commercial information and news sources

Most commercial information and news sources require you to subscribe and pay for content, although they will have some content that is free to all users. The organisations listed here are some of the major sources of good quality information on the UK retail industry, and all have some free content.

Verdict www.verdict.co.uk / www.datamonitor.com
Verdict is a retail research company that provides independent analysis of the industry. Most of its content is for subscribers only, but it has a free weekly newsletter service, and free summaries of its reports. This, and further information, is also available on the website of Verdict's parent company, Datamonitor.

Mintel www.mintel.co.uk
Mintel is a market, consumer and media research company. It is quite general but does do a lot on the retail industry, including frequent sector reviews. Most of its reports and information are for subscribers only, but it has a useful press release section and gives summaries of its reports.

Retail Week www.retail-week.com
Retail Week is a weekly trade magazine for the UK retail sector. The website gives you the latest news free, and you can sign up for a daily news digest service. More detailed information is available for subscribers.

The Retail Bulletin www.theretailbulletin.com
The Retail Bulletin is an online information source about the retail industry, including company news, breaking news stories and summaries of media coverage. You can sign up for twice-weekly news alerts.

The Grocer www.thegrocer.co.uk
The Grocer is a weekly trade magazine for the food retail business. You can find the latest industry news on the site, but all other content is for subscribers only.

eNews from MapInfo www.mapinfo.co.uk
MapInfo is an international company specialising in location intelligence. You can sign up for email news and see case studies in the retail, property and leisure sector.

Talking Retail www.talkingretail.com
Talking Retail is a free-access website containing worldwide grocery industry news, views and analysis.

Government sources

You can find out a lot of general information about the UK retail industry and consumer issues from various Government websites.

Defra www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a dedicated section on food on its website covering different areas of food manufacturing and production in the UK, including statistics, policies and so on.

National Statistics  www.statistics.gov.uk
'National Statistics' are the official statistics produced by the Government's Office of National Statistics. You will find a wide range of statistics on its website, including a section on the UK's Retail Sales Index.

Office of Fair Trading  www.oft.gov.uk
The Office of Fair Trading's aim is to make markets work for consumers. Its website gives general information for consumers and businesses on a range of issues not limited to the retail industry that are particularly to do with pricing and fair competition.

Competition Commission  www.competition-commission.org.uk
The Competition Commission is an independent public body which conducts in-depth inquiries into mergers, markets and the regulation of the major regulated industries. On its website you can find reports on current and previous inquiries into, for instance, supermarkets, store cards and individual company acquisitions.

Educational institutions

Here you will find links to some of the main educational institutions relevant to the UK retail industry.

Skillsmart Retail  www.skillsmartretail.com
Skillsmart Retail is a not-for-profit organisation set up by the UK Government to raise the profile of the retail industry and attract people into a retail career. Our former Chairman, Sir Stuart Hampson, is a patron. You'll find information about careers, skills and qualifications, policy and research on the website.

Oxford Institute of Retail Management  www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/oxirm
Part of the Said Business School, OXIRM offers management development programmes and conducts research into the retail industry. Its research focuses mainly on external influences that affect the industry.

Institute for Retail Studies  www.irs.stir.ac.uk
IRS, based at the University of Stirling, is one of Europe's largest university-based retail institutes. It offers education and training programmes for the retail sector and conducts research on behalf of Government bodies, companies, public sector bodies and research councils.

Retail Academy  www.retailacademy.org
The Retail Academy provides training and support for the retail sector and promotes retail skills in the UK. It is largely aimed at helping small businesses in the industry.

Consumer interest groups

Here you will find links to some of the main consumer interest groups in the UK, plus some that are particularly relevant to our businesses.

Consumer Focus  www.consumerfocus.org.uk
Consumer Focus is the new statutory organisation campaigning for a fair deal for consumers in England, Wales, Scotland, and, for postal services, Northern Ireland, created through the merger of three consumer organisations – energywatch, Postwatch and the National Consumer Council (including the Welsh and Scottish Consumer Councils). Its websites have a wealth of information on many subjects related to consumers and the retail industry.

Which?  www.which.co.uk
Which? campaigns on behalf of consumers and is best known for its product comparisons and research. You'll find a large amount of information on food and retail industry issues on its website.

Friends of the Earth  www.foe.co.uk
Friends of the Earth is an environmental campaign group. It is running a national food campaign, 'Real Food', which aims to safeguard the future of what we eat and those who provide it.

Soil Association  www.soilassociation.org
The Soil Association is an environmental charity that promotes sustainable and organic farming and champions health. It is the UK's largest organic certification body. Its website contains a lot of information on food and farming issues.

Fairtrade Foundation  www.fairtrade.org.uk
The Fairtrade Foundation licenses the Fairtrade Mark to products in the UK that meet the standards of the international certification body, Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International. These standards are about giving producers and workers, particularly those in developing countries, a fair price for their products.