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Retail Leaders Report 2025

Leading through disruption: Achieving retail resilience

This report serves as a vital resource for retail leaders seeking to understand the current landscape and develop strategies for sustainable growth.

Strategic insights for retail leaders in a transformative era

In an era marked by labour shortages, fragile supply chains, shifting customer loyalties and the rapid evolution of AI and automation, retail leaders face an increasingly complex landscape. Our latest survey of 700 global retail executives' sheds light on how businesses are tackling these challenges, revealing a critical reality. Many are opting for short-term, reactive spending instead of committing to careful, long-term strategic planning.

 

Our report serves as an essential pulse check, a wake-up call and a strategic roadmap for retail leaders. It highlights the challenges that lie ahead, but more importantly, it underscores the opportunities for those who choose to invest with foresight, clarity and courage.

By reading our report, leaders will gain valuable insights that will empower them to not only navigate the complexities of the retail landscape but also to thrive as they steer their organisations into 2030 and beyond.

Key findings

The overinvestment paradox

66% of retail leaders say their business is overinvesting in managing key challenges

The ever-evolving retail workforce

1 in 4 retailers expect to decrease their workforce in 2025

The leadership perception gap

79% of CEOs believe their business is effectively managing retail-wide labour shortages—but just 55% of HR directors agree

Retail’s complex digital landscape

1 in 3 retailers are aiming for full-scale automation in 2030 but are unlikely to get there without major acceleration

Strained supply chains

43% of retailers cite supply chain issues as being in their top three business challenges

Sustainability stuck on the horizon

74% of sustainability leaders don’t think their organisations are effective or very effective in achieving net zero in operations

Explore the full findings in the report and infographic

Contact the Marsh McLennan team

Kelvyn Sampson

Kelvyn Sampson

Retail, Food & Beverage, and Leisure Industries Leader

  • United Kingdom

Alister French

Alister French

Retail and Consumer Goods Partner, Oliver Wyman

  • United Kingdom

Dr. Beverley Adams

Dr. Beverley Adams

Head of Client Engagement and Consulting Director, Strategic Risk Practice, Marsh Advisory

  • United Kingdom

Colette Crawford

Colette Crawford

UK Growth Leader - Retail, Food, Beverage and Leisure Practice

  • United Kingdom

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Darren Holmes

Head of Operational Risk Consulting, UK & Ireland

  • United Kingdom

David Tate

David Tate

Retail, Food, Beverage and Leisure Industry Leader, UK & Ireland

  • United Kingdom

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David Wreford

Partner, Mercer

  • United Kingdom

Helen Nuttall

Helen Nuttall

Head of Cyber Incident Management

  • United Kingdom

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James Crask

Head of Multinational Clients, Marsh Advisory

  • United Kingdom

Leigh Stanger

Leigh Stanger

Retail Industry Leader, Mercer

  • United Kingdom

Sam Wallace

Sam Wallace

Industry Vertical Practices Leader, Mercer Marsh Benefits UK

Sofie Taylor

Sofie Taylor

Regional Commercial Director

  • United Kingdom