Ranking: The UK retailers with the highest global sales

Few retailers can resist the tantalising allure of success in international markets, and as a result, many of the retailers on this list have made huge strides into expanding their estates across the globe.

Among the top 10, Primark’s storm of the US, Kingfisher’s march across France and JD’s explosion across Europe are some of the most notable international expansion plans from UK retailers in recent years. 

However, as you may notice on this table, in percentage terms, growth in international sales have been relatively subdued for some in the last year. 

“Economic uncertainty, rising costs and a slowing luxury market have all contributed to dampened international growth over the last year or so,” says Retail Navigator senior retail analyst Beth Bloomfield. 

Among others, Currys, Asos, Next and Boohoo have seen a drop in global sales, while growth has been modest for the likes of THG. 

According to Retail Navigator senior retail analyst Kate Doherty, this may be because many retailers have had their eye closer to home over the last year.

“Amid a challenging trading environment – plagued by steep inflation and soaring business costs – many UK retailers have focused investment on driving growth within the core UK business,” she says. 

“Setting up the infrastructure to succeed in other markets can be costly, with many retailers seeking low-risk, capital-light options for international expansion. 

“Many global markets are likely to have experienced similar challenges to those in the UK with the rebound in stores placing ecommerce under pressure, while retail partners have also been impacted by the rising costs of doing business.”

Next didn’t have a great year internationally in 22/23, but according to Doherty that may be set to change, and we may see it climb the ranking in the years to come. 

“Next has identified ramping up the brand overseas as a key growth avenue,” she says. 

“Although it reported a £1.2m reduction in profits from its franchise and wholesale division in 2023/24, it expects its total profit from franchise and wholesale to increase to around £8m in the current financial year on the back of agreements with new international partners, such as Nordstrom in the US.

“It recently forged a franchise deal with Myntra in India for online and stores, signalling intent to scale up its presence in the country, while it is also seeking similar arrangements in other Asian territories.

“For UK retailers like Next, working with wholesale and franchise partners for growth beyond the domestic market makes business sense. Next admits that in these markets it is making the trade-off of some of its potential retail margin in return for lower risk, ready-made local infrastructure and customer base.”

Mountain Warehouse, which is just a few places shy of entering the top 20, has also stepped up its international operations, and particularly those in the US. The outdoor leisure retailer snapped up US retailer EMS just a couple of weeks ago – boosting its store numbers in the country to over 50. 

Mountain Warehouse founder Mark Neale told Retail Week: “The US is the biggest outdoors market in the world and we are trying to build a global brand. The EMS transaction felt like a golden opportunity to strengthen our position in the market by acquiring a much-loved and iconic brand that resonates with huge numbers of long-standing customers.

“The UK is the cornerstone of the business and we continue to grow here, opening new stores and increasing online sales. However, international markets provide us with great opportunities too. We have a growing international footprint with around 100 stores in eight other markets – New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Austria, Ireland, Canada, the US, and Germany. They generate around 30% of sales at the moment, and longer term the ambition is to grow the international side to be 50% of group revenue.”

Another retailer pushing its international success story is WH Smith, says Retail Navigator’s Bloomfield. 

“WHSmith is driving strong international growth through an acute focus on its travel division,” she says.  

“Its acquisition of InMotion and SSP provided a significant boost to its international footprint. These businesses operate in high-traffic areas like airports and train stations, offering a captive audience for their products.

“At the end of the most recent financial year in August 2023, WHSmith had 665 international units across 30 countries covering the Middle East, Australia, South East Asia, India, America and Europe. This included 327 units in North America. In late 2023, the retailer said it is looking to ‘significantly grow’ its market share in North America to around 20% over the next five years.”

Where to next?

The locations where retailers believe their success will be discovered varies dramatically from sector to sector, and indeed from retailer to retailer. Within sports and leisure, Gymshark, JD Sports and Frasers have all been making strides in international expansion, but their priority destinations vary. 

For Gymshark, it has just announced plans to open its first store in Dubai, its first permanent location outside of the UK. One of the key regions JD Sports is accelerating in is the US (aiming to open 100 new store openings a year there), while Frasers has ambitions to become “the number one sporting goods retailer in Europe, the Middle East and Asia”. 

Oceania is also a key target for many retailers, including Mountain Warehouse’s Neale. 

“We have just opened our first two stores in Australia and we have high hopes for the business in a country where people spend so much time outdoors, travelling and exploring. We already have 24 stores in neighbouring New Zealand, and that business is performing very well,” he says. 

“Of course operating in numerous countries is more complex than just being in the UK, but it also creates opportunities for our colleagues to develop and grow their careers with us. We are able to use our sourcing expertise, our IT systems and logistics capabilities to expand into these new markets.” 

Much like families budgeting through the summer holidays, weighing up necessities needed at home with international ambitions will continue to be a fine balance.