The British retailers trying to make it big in America
December 10, 2025
The US has a reputation for being a graveyard of ambition for UK retailers. Tesco (TSCO), Sainsbury’s (SBRY), Marks & Spencer (MKS), HMV and the Body Shop have all tried and failed to establish themselves in the world’s second-biggest retail market, valued at $4.9tn (£3.8tn), according to GlobalData.
More recently, online fashion brands Asos (ASOS) and Boohoo (BOO) have invested heavily in US infrastructure without generating the necessary returns.
Yet as last week’s attempt by activist Gatemore to get Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) to shift its primary listing to the US indicates, there is a coterie of UK retailers for whom North America is becoming big business.