Next best UK childrenswear

The UK fashion retailer has become a leader in the British childrenswear market. The former marketleader, Marks & Spencer, will never achieve the top position again, according to recent figures from British analysts Verdict Research Ltd. M&S now occupies the fourth position with a 5,5 % marketshare.

Next Plc is now a marketleader with a 10,7 % share of the childrenswear market, which is estimated at £ 4.3 billion. Supermarket groups Asda and Tesco have also overtaken M&S. They have achieved respective market shares of 9,2 and 6,2 % respectively. Verdict Research believes that M&S will never recover its former position, and that it is likely that Asda may even overtake Next in the future, thanks to its succesful George brand. Furthermore, Asda has expanded its collection to include a large babywear line, following a reported 4% rise in birth rates in the UK since 2003.

The mother and baby retailer Mothercare has regained its reputation as a specialist in its field with a new and improved range of producst and Boots is now also developing its mother and baby line.