S/B/30. Critically analyse how theories of retail change can be applied to explain changes in the UK grocery retail sector over the last twenty years, and suggest how this sector may develop in the next five.

This paper considers changes in the UK grocery retail sector over the last twenty years charting both occasions where these changes have coincided with theories of retail change and perhaps more importantly when they have not. The paper considers sector change in terms of format, location, assortment and concentration and also points out times when specific innovations within the market have had major effect. The paper cites numerous real life examples when comparing the theories of retail change with actual goings on in the UK grocery retail sector. Finally the paper suggests how these models of retail change can help predict the development of the sector in the future.