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Our Retail Risk Outlook for 2025 helps retailers navigate a shifting legal and regulatory landscape by providing insights into key legislative updates, and compliance challenges, with expert commentary to help businesses anticipate change and reduce risk.
This year’s main themes include greater transparency and accountability for green claims, the DMCC Act’s impact on consumer protection and retailers’ price transparency, evolving tariffs, national insurance changes, the Employment Rights Bill, and increases to the minimum wage – alongside opportunities from AI, net zero planning, and tech adoption.
While the road ahead is challenging, retailers who plan effectively can move forward with confidence, fully aware of the risks and opportunities ahead.
Date published
08 May 2025
Key themes for retail in 2025
Sustainability and environment
From green claims and ESG reporting to extended producer responsibility, sustainability remains a regulatory minefield. Businesses must ensure their claims are accurate and that they’re ready for increasing disclosure requirements in both the UK and EU.
Product and marketing
With updates on product safety, pricing, advertising, and trade rules, retailers need to be aware of tighter standards and growing accountability. The focus is on transparency, fair marketing, and responsible product labelling.
Property
Proposed reforms, energy efficiency standards, and shifting real estate use are reshaping the retail property landscape. Retailers must reassess leases, compliance obligations, and strategies for high street premises amid ongoing changes.
Employment
Major developments include the Employment Rights Bill and new duties around equality and harassment. Retailers need to review policies, contracts, and workplace culture to stay compliant.
Tech, data and AI
AI regulation, data access, cybersecurity and digital payments are crucial in 2025. Retailers looking to embrace digital transformation must also manage risk and remain compliant with legal and ethical standards.
Governance and enforcement
Retailers face tougher enforcement around competition, consumer reviews, online choice architecture and transparency. New legislation and regulatory focus areas mean businesses must reinforce governance and compliance systems across their operations.
Watch our short video to hear from Duncan Reed, Partner, and Editor, to hear an overview of the key themes of the report, and how we can help you navigate upcoming legal and regulatory changes.
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