Retail Food Industry

The retail industry employs approximately 2 145 000 people or 9.8 per cent of the total working population in Great Britain. Almost twothirds of those working in retailing are women and a quarter of all employees are aged twenty-four or less. The retail food sector accounts for 818 000 (35 per cent) of those employed in retailing (Retail Pocket Book, 1991). Of these approximately 45 per cent are employed on a part-time basis. Whilst the majority of the retail industry is based in small units spread over a wide area, the industry is dominated by a small number of larger companies.