Who will be beneficiaries of disruption in the retail sector?

'Move online will be relentless'

Retail is a troubled sector, with disappointments coming even from blue-chip businesses such as Next and Kingfisher. Years of growth have suddenly reversed, and simply rolling out more space now looks like a risky strategy.

It might be a consumer squeeze following the pound's devaluation, but it looks like something bigger. Younger consumers are more focused on overall retail experiences and have different tastes - mobile commerce is rapidly changing consumer behaviour. SFO hits Tesco with £129m fine while FCA demands £85m shareholder compensation scheme Footfall is softening in many areas, hitting not just major retailers, but speciality and restaurants too. Groups without a strong, fully-integrated, online offering are struggling.   It is tempting to avoid the whole sector in the face of this dis...