The Retail Index celebrates the UK’s 100 fastest growing retail businesses, with matcha-based energy drink brand PerfectTed claiming the number one position in this year’s ranking of Britain’s fastest growing retailers.
Health and wellness companies dominated this year’s list, with beauty, health & wellbeing brands taking 16 of the 100 spots. The sector’s rise reflects a post-pandemic shift toward holistic wellbeing, from brain function supplements to premium nutrition products and natural personal care.
Top takeaways from the 2025 Retail Index:
Health & wellness leads the charge: The sector has surged to prominence, with companies focusing on holistic health solutions making significant gains. Winners include Ancient & Brave (ranked 4th) with collagen and wellness blends, P.Louise cosmetics (15th), and supplement brands Phizz (18th) and Heights (40th). This trend extends across categories, with pet wellness products also thriving – Pet Lab Co. (33rd), Butternut Box (21st) and Scrumbles (28th) all feature.
Food & drink innovation thrives: Traditional categories are being reinvented by creative entrepreneurs. PerfectTed’s 559.83% compound annual growth demonstrates the appetite for healthier alternatives, while premium meal prep services Simmer Eats (2nd) and Prep Kitchen (13th) cater to time-poor consumers seeking quality nutrition. British baby formula maker Kendal Nutricare (14th) has captured over 20% of the UK market despite fierce multinational competition.
Discount retail finds opportunity: In challenging economic times, discount-focused businesses are thriving. Huddled Group (3rd), which specializes in surplus goods through brands like Discount Dragon and Nutricircle, achieved 322.69% growth by making quality products accessible to budget-conscious consumers.
Bootstrapped success stories: An impressive 64 of the top 100 achieved hyper-growth without venture capital funding or an IPO, demonstrating British retail entrepreneurs’ resourcefulness. Only 36 companies received external financing, though these funded businesses grew on average at 104.1% versus the list average of 81.9%.
Record-breaking growth rates: The 2025 cohort achieved an average compound annual growth rate of 81.9%, significantly up from 61.9% last year, making this the fastest-growing group of retailers yet measured. The average company is now turning over approximately £82 million, with the largest (Huws Gray) reaching £1.4 billion and the smallest achieving £5 million.
The top ten retailers ranked by growth:
- PerfectTed – matcha-based energy drinks with 559.83% CAGR, reaching £9.6m turnover
- Simmer Eats – chef-prepared fresh meals with 370.25% CAGR, reaching £36.1m
- Huddled Group – e-commerce surplus goods specialist with 322.69% CAGR, reaching £14.2m
- Ancient & Brave – collagen and wellness blends with 295.22% CAGR, reaching £19.9m
- Proof Drinks – multi-channel drinks distributor with 285.21% CAGR, reaching £32.9m
- Purdy & Figg – natural cleaning refills with 236.00% CAGR, reaching £40.3m
- Winedrops – members-only wine club with 221.00% CAGR, reaching £9.5m
- Harding – cruise ship retail operations with 198.29% CAGR, reaching £296.1m
- Salt Beer – Yorkshire craft brewery with 197.40% CAGR, reaching £13.9m
- Bold Bean Co – premium jarred beans with 191.96% CAGR, reaching £6.8m
Orlando Martins, Founder and CEO of Growth Index, praised the resilience of the retail sector: “What’s particularly striking this year is how health-conscious consumers are driving growth across multiple categories. From nutrition and wellness to premium food and sustainable fashion, retailers who understand this shift toward holistic wellbeing are reaping the rewards. These businesses prove that savvy retailers can grow at remarkable pace even in challenging economic conditions, creating jobs, building export markets and contributing revenues to the Treasury.”
Regional performance: London continues to dominate with 39 companies, reflecting the capital’s strength in consumer brands and access to talent and investment. The North West has 14 companies, Yorkshire 4, Scotland 3, and Wales 4. The geographic distribution highlights both London’s continued dominance and pockets of retail innovation across the UK.
Female leadership: Women lead or co-lead 18 of the 100 companies (up from 14 last year), significantly outperforming the FTSE 100 where just 7 women hold CEO roles. Notable female founders include PerfectTed’s Marisa Poster, Ancient & Brave’s Kate Prince, and Albaray’s Paula Stewart.
Young entrepreneurs driving growth: The list features impressive young founders in their twenties, including PerfectTed’s founding trio (all in their 20s with no prior food & beverage experience) and 28-year-old Simmy Dhillon of Simmer Eats, demonstrating that age is no barrier to building high-growth retail businesses.
