Beloved for its ‘midl’ aisle, ironically cool own-brand socks and sliders, and top-notch in-store bakery, Lidl is now officially the UK’s best supermarket after taking the top gong at a glittering awards ceremony in London tonight – the first time it has beaten fellow German grocer Aldi.

And, after years of failing to impress fashion-focused customers, Marks and Spencer – which saw its holiday clothes and jeans fly last year – impressed the critics enough to reclaim its ‘Fashion Retailer of the Year’ crown.

Lidl and Marks and Spencer were two of 19 retailers celebrating last night at the Retail Week Awards, sponsored by Salesforce, where hundreds of the industry’s biggest names gathered to compete for an array of accolades.

Lidl’s win comes hot on the heels of an amazing year for the supermarket when 1.4 million more UK customers entered its doors and it reported an 18.8% increase in sales, to £9.3 billion. It’s now the third-largest supermarket in London, overtaking Asda and gaining ground on Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

 

Hanna Jackson, managing director at Retail Week, said: “The Retail Week Awards judges – made up of leading retail CEOs – complimented Lidl on building an incredible business in the UK. Customers are loving the quality and innovation of its food offering as well as – of course – its incredible prices. It is also playing a very clever game in attracting Gen Z shoppers with the aim of keeping them as loyal customers for life.”

Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer has enjoyed a phoenix-like resurgence in fashion following a decade of decline, boosted by the sale of customer-friendly, third-party brands including Sweaty Betty, Nobody’s Child and Sosandar. The retailer reported an 11.5% increase in clothing and home sales, to £3.7 billion, last year.

“M&S has completely overhauled its fashion credentials, thanks to co-chief executive officer Katie Bickerstaffe’s transformational strategy for the divisions,” added Hanna Jackson, managing director at Retail Week. “Its influencer-led social media strategy has really paid off, as has the way it’s brought third-party brands into the M&S family and aligned itself with celebrity fashionistas like Sienna Miller, Zawe Ashton and Sophie Ellis-Bextor in its advertising campaigns. 

“More – and younger – customers are back buying clothes at M&S. It’s a very worthy winner.”

Ryan McDonnell, CEO of Lidl GB, said: “We’re thrilled to be named Grocer of the Year, an especially poignant accolade with 2024 marking our 30th anniversary in Great Britain. When the doors to our first store opened back in 1994, our promise was simple, offer customers great quality food at unbeatable value, and this commitment still stands. Big on Quality, Lidl on Price isn’t just a brand slogan. It’s a promise that epitomises what our business stands for, and encapsulates our commitment to social responsibility and sustainability which is core to our DNA. Over the years, this has helped contribute towards a significant change in the way that British households shop for their groceries.”

Richard Price, managing director of clothing and home at Marks and Spencer, said: “We’re thrilled to be recognised as Retail Week’s Fashion Retailer of the Year. The team has worked incredibly hard to elevate style perceptions while continuing to offer product that is exceptional quality and value. Lots to be cheerful about while lots still to do and so much to go after in the year ahead.” 

There was also recognition for Tesco, which was named ‘Best Retailer Over £250m’ and is still the UK’s biggest supermarket, Primark, which was named ‘International Retailer of the Year’ in recognition of its aggressive and successful programme of store openings in North America and Europe over the last 12 months, and Amazon, which won the Consumer Choice Award, as voted for by the public, for the seventh year running.

Walmart’s former president and CEO Judith McKenna was awarded ‘Outstanding Contribution to Retail’ for her meteoric rise to becoming one of the world’s most influential retailers and Sainsbury’s chief executive officer Simon Roberts was named Salesforce Retail Leader of the Year’ for what the Retail Week Awards judges described as an ‘ego free’ style of leadership that makes him ‘a pleasure to work with.

Hanna Jackson, managing director at Retail Week, added: “Under Simon’s leadership, he’s addressed the retail giant’s slumping market share, guided it through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis by putting food back at the heart of the business.  

“He’s a people-focused leader who prioritises culture. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been difficult decisions as Sainsbury’s has looked at how to ensure sustainable growth, but he epitomises modern leadership that prioritises purpose.” 

Judith McKenna said: “I am honoured to receive this award and to be recognised by an industry that I love. 

“Over my 30-year retail career I have met many people in retail and beyond who have supported me. It’s been an enormous privilege here in the UK at Asda and internationally with Walmart to work with so many amazing colleagues and leaders who have taught me so much and shared their love of retail with me. I owe a debt of gratitude to each and everyone of them. 

“To be the first female leader to receive this award is particularly poignant as we approach International Women’s Day so I’d like to take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution of all the brilliant women who work in retail, on the sales floor, in supply chain, in head offices and in boardrooms right across the globe. This one is for you!” 

The Retail Week Awards have been recognising and rewarding the efforts of retailers and retail workers for nearly 30 years and this year’s judging panel included some of the most respected names in the industry, ranging from WHSmith’s chief executive Carl Cowling to White Stuff’s chief executive Jo Jenkins.

Wednesday night’s ceremony came ahead of the UK’s leading retail gathering LIVE: Retail Week x The Grocer which is taking place from 12 – 13 March at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London.

EE, Currys and Majestic Wine among other Retail Week Award winners

EE also claimed a top spot for ‘Best New Store’, thanks to its new Studio store in Westfield London which features a host of new experience zones including a gaming area, smart home zone and a digital spa” where customers can use technology to detox from their screens.

Currys was awarded ‘The Green Initiative’ for recycling and harvesting thousands of products and parts, its “Cash for Trash” programme which offers customers a voucher worth at least £5 when old tech is recycled, and for its work providing refurbished white goods and devices to low-income families.

And Majestic Wine won The Microsoft Award for the Happiest Place to Work, in partnership with the Retail Trust. The specialist wine retailer conducted its largest-ever staff listening programme last year to create new employee forums to improve communication across the business.

Retail heroes celebrated 

Other individuals and teams from across the retail industry were celebrated for leading their businesses and communities during the last year, including Pet’s at Home’s regional operations director Lucy Bain, who was awarded ‘The American Express Inclusion and Diversity Hero’ for her work, which includes attracting more employees with diverse characteristics, including from more diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Life saver Bobby Storey, from sofa and carpet specialists, ScS, was awarded ‘Delivery Hero’ after spotting a gas leak in a customer’s home.

And the team at Homebase in Catford won ‘the Community Heroes award’ for their work supporting local schools, fire brigades, police, and parks across south London.

Navkinder Sanghera, AVP retail, consumer goods, travel, transport and hospitality at Salesforce UK, added: “The Retail Week Awards nominees and winners represent all that is great about the industry, with individuals and teams demonstrating innovation and resilience despite continued disruption and an uncertain economic outlook. We’re seeing brands embrace technological shifts and remain laser focused on staying connected and delivering on the high expectations of today’s customers.” 

The Retail Week Awards 2024 winners:  

THE AMERICAN EXPRESS INCLUSION & DIVERSITY HERO/HEROES AWARD – Lucy Bains, regional operations director, Pets at Home

THE BEST NEW STORE AWARD – EE

THE BEST RETAILER OVER £250m – Tesco

THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE GAMECHANGER AWARD – Holland & Barrett

THE CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD – Amazon

THE COMMUNITY HERO/HEROES AWARD – Homebase, Catford 

THE DELIVERY HERO/HEROES AWARD – Bobby Storey, ScS

THE FASHION RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Marks and Spencer

THE GREEN INITIATIVE – Currys

THE INTERNATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR – Primark

THE MICROSOFT AWARD FOR THE HAPPIEST PLACE TO WORK IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RETAIL TRUST – Majestic Wine

THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO RETAIL AWARD – Judith McKenna, president and CEO, Walmart International

THE RELEX SOLUTIONS RESPONSIBLE RETAILER AWARD – Cook

THE SALESFORCE BEST RETAILER UNDER £250m – Jollyes

THE SALESFORCE RETAIL LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Simon Roberts, CEO, Sainsbury’s

THE SAP HEAD OFFICE HERO/HEROES AWARD – Team Fusion, Ann Summers

THE SOFTSERVE GROCER OF THE YEAR – Lidl

THE SPECIALITY RETAILER OF THE YEAR – HMV

THE STORE HEROES AWARD – Beckton store team, Currys