Trend of the Month

Retail Meets Foodservice

On Christmas Eve, the 113 year old Selfridges business was sold by the Weston family to Thai retailer Central Group and Austrian property firm Signa Group for a £4 billion price tag.

The new owners were quick to announce a planned overhaul of the flagship Oxford Street store in London. In addition to upgrading the food hall, they also plan to develop a luxury hotel in part of the building – serving travellers’ needs for convenience when staying in the city.

Following close to two years of Covid-19 restrictions and stay at home mandates, consumers are increasingly craving experiences that entice them away from online and back out into the ‘real world’. The pairing of retail and hospitality opens up opportunities for brands to provide both engaging and luxury offerings, thus tapping into consumer pandemic saving pots.