London top spot for international retailers

London has reclaimed the number one position as the most targeted market for international retailers, according to the 2012 edition of 'How Global is the Business of Retail?' by property adviser CBRE.

Attracting more than half (55.6%) of all international retail brands surveyed, London reclaims the outright number one position after sharing top spot with Dubai last year. London benefited from a mini-boom in 2011 as tourist spending boosted a relatively robust local economy, and remains a key hub for retailers looking to expand into Europe. The UK also retains number one position as the most penetrated global country with 56.7% of retailers in the survey present there.

CBRE's annual survey - now in its fifth year - mapped the global footprint of 326 of the world’s top retailers across more than 200 cities to identify trends in global retail expansion at national and local levels.

The report found that retailers expanded into a wide range of markets in 2011, with 74% of the countries in the survey seeing at least one new retailer enter the market last year. The overall global footprint of retailers grew 2.1%, similar to the previous year, demonstrating that retailers continue to grow their cross-border businesses in spite of a challenging consumer environment.

Peter Gold, Head of EMEA Cross Border Retail, CBRE, commented: 'In the face of ongoing economic uncertainty, which looks set to remain a factor throughout 2012, retailers have responded by seeking to de-risk their expansion activities, generally choosing markets like the UK that are regarded as safe havens. London is generally the first port of call for global retailers, but once they have established a presence in the capital, they are willing to extend their reach into other major UK cities, as well as major regional shopping centres such as Trafford Park, Meadowhall and Bluewater.'