Amazon, Apple, Screwfix Tesco and comeback kid Boots flagged as elite retailers in RTS 2025 report

Amazon, Apple, Boots, Screwfix and Tesco are the elite retailers in the 2025 UK Top 500 report from RetailX Intelligence in partnership with Retail Technology Show (RTS), with Amazon becoming the only one to have retained its ‘elite’ retail status every year since the index was launched.

Now in its 11th year, the report benchmarks the leading 500 direct-to-consumer (DTC) retailers, brands and marketplaces in the UK. Each year, it selects a small group of ‘elite’ retailers, which all epitomise best-practice in delivering seamless, meaningful and engaging cross-channel shopping experiences.

Amazon secured its place in the 2025 report due to its continual investment and innovation across logistics, mobile and AI powered CX, bringing its digital technology leadership to bear across sales channels, from Amazon Fresh stores to its entertainment streaming and across its marketplace platform.

The e-commerce giant saw sales rise +10% in its fourth quarter ending on 31st December 2024, and plans to ramp up investment in AI, setting aside $100 billion in advancing its AI initiatives, this year.

While private equity firm Sycamore Partners’ takeover of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which operates over 1,800 Boots stores in the UK, has cast some uncertainty over the future of the chemist chain in recent weeks, Boots re-entered the elite retail category in the 2025 Top 500 report for the first time since 2022.

Its resurgence comes after digitally transforming across its channels, from stores to its app and boots.com, which helped deliver a 14th consecutive quarter of growth in October 2024, boosted by improving digital sales (up +18.7% YOY) and demand for make-up (up +15%). This growth has been bolstered by leveraging data from 16.9 million customers who actively use its Advantage Card loyalty programme to power shopper insights while exploring new uses for AI.

Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer at Boots UK and RTS 2025 Advisory Board Member, says, it is “not just limiting [AI] to improving systems, stock replenishment and reordering.”

Instead, she adds, the health and beauty retailer is focusing AI efforts on CX: “Our internal AI driven chatbot solution… has been exceptional in helping customers with queries. These [aren’t a] replacement for real human interaction; we want to understand how AI can undertake more straightforward [tasks], allowing our team to focus on complex, relationship-building conversations.”   

Ian Jindal, CEO at RetailX, comments: “The 11th edition of this annual report comes as retailers selling in the UK wait for long-anticipated economic growth in the face of new and increasing costs. Shoppers still appear to be holding back on spending for similar reasons. But, with growth forecast, the economic outlook could soon feel more positive. Our congratulations go to the elite of 2025: Amazon, Apple, Boots, Screwfix and Tesco.”

Matt Bradley, Event Director at RTS, comments: “It’s great to see so many of the movers and shakers of retail - from the elite and leading brands to the Top500 UK retailers featured as examples of omnichannel excellence in RetailX’s latest report - choosing RTS as the place they can connect with partners and peers.”

“Renowned for delivering white hot insight into the trends shaping the industry’s agenda and for connecting retailers to the most cutting-edge tech suppliers, we look forward to welcoming retailers from the UK top 500 to the show in April.”

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July.

This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

Key 2025 dates

Friday, 23rd May: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 27th May: 2025 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 28th May - Friday, 13th June: Judging days

Thursday, 3rd July: Winners announced at the 2025 RTIH AI in Retail Awards Ceremony, to be held at The Barbican in Central London.