Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has today launched its annual Business Outlook report, ‘Business Outlook 2026’, which reflects on key market activity, trends and challenges of 2025 and forecasts what 2026 might bring across the industries in which Christie & Co operates, including the convenience retail sector.
The report highlights that convenience stores continued to evolve in 2025, with larger multi-site operators and corporates selectively divesting underperforming stores while focusing on high-footfall, larger locations. Inflation, combined with wage and National Insurance increases, has accelerated this trend, prompting operators to embrace hybrid formats that blend traditional convenience with ‘foodvenience’ and on-the-go offerings tailored to shifting consumer preferences.
A notable development in 2025 was the emergence of younger, entrepreneurial independent retailers, whose confidence to expand has been fuelled by fine-tuned business models post-pandemic. This generational resurgence is driving a more agile and community-responsive retail landscape, where success increasingly depends on localised stock selections and operational efficiency.
The report reveals that demand for convenience store sites remains strong, particularly across the North West, Yorkshire, the Cotswolds, and near major cities such as Birmingham and Nottingham, as well as Scotland’s Central Belt. Remote locations, including South Wales and Cornwall, continue to attract buyers, but at a slight discount due to distance from buyer bases.
Christie & Co advised on convenience stores with a combined value of over £243 million in 2025, with an average of five offers per store sold. The average price of retail businesses sold by Christie & Co increased by 5.9% in 2025, and the report’s sentiment survey reveals 80% of retail stakeholder respondents are planning to buy, sell, or both in 2026, indicating an active transactional market ahead.
Looking to 2026, the report outlines Christie & Co’s market predictions:
- Operators will continue to embrace hybrid formats blending traditional convenience with tailored on-the-go services
- Entrepreneurial independent retailers will seek acquisitions and expansion opportunities in 2026
- Ongoing shift toward targeting customers through technology and social media engagement
- Strategic divestment by corporates is expected to continue
Steve Rodell, Managing Director – Retail & Leisure at Christie & Co, commented, “Convenience retail remains a needs-driven sector and continues to attract strong buyer interest despite cost pressures. Operators who innovate, whether through hybrid formats, technology adoption, or localised offerings, will be best placed to succeed in 2026. With banks keen to lend and entrepreneurial buyers entering the market, we expect transaction activity to remain buoyant.”
