Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!
Retail's Best operates invite-only B2B networking events for the UK convenience, forecourt, and roadside retail sectors, curating exclusive gatherings that connect 3,500+ independent retailers and forecourt operators with blue-chip suppliers under multi-year sponsorship partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNorfolk, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! does
Retail's Best is a UK-based B2B event business that organises curated, invite-only evening networking events for the convenience, forecourt, and roadside retail sectors. Its core offering consists of three event series — Roadside Retail Partners (forecourt-focused), Convenience, Food & Franchise (multi-site convenience and franchise opportunities), and Synergy Sessions (closed-door industry discussions) — each combining breakout sessions, networking drinks receptions, signature food experiences, and a curated 'smart exhibition' in which only one supplier per product category is permitted. The company reaches a claimed community of over 3,500 independent retailers and forecourt operators in the UK, with headline guest lists of 250–300 senior operators per flagship event.
The underlying operation is event management and community curation rather than a technology product: there is no proprietary software platform, no AI components, and no public API. Events are organised by Concept Events under the VAS Group, which also provides the Norfolk-based head office function. Sponsorship is structured as multi-year partner tiers (Fuel Partner, Retail Partner, Energy Partner, EPoS Partner, Food for Now Partner, Vape Supplier, sub-partner, exhibitor, and brand-activator slots), with headline sponsors including Booker, Co-op/Nisa, Greenergy, TSG UK, Gulf Oil, and Morrisons across 2024–2026 events.
Revenue is generated through the sale of these event partnership packages, sub-partner slots, and exhibitor positions, with media partner arrangements supporting distribution via MobilityPlaza and What Franchise. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held, shows no external venture funding, and operates with 27 employees from a Norfolk headquarters. Founded circa 2014 (formally dated 2018), Retail's Best has maintained a steady annual event cadence and continues to extend its programme through 2026.
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!
- Legal name
- Retail's Best
- Website
- https://retailsbest.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Retail's Best operates invite-only B2B networking events for the UK convenience, forecourt, and roadside retail sectors, curating exclusive gatherings that connect 3,500+ independent retailers and forecourt operators with blue-chip suppliers under multi-year sponsorship partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! industry classification
Industry- Product category
- B2B Networking Events
- NAICS
- Food and Beverage Retailers (445)
- SIC
- Retail-Convenience Stores (5412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Forecourt Convenience Stores (Fuel-Integrated) (CRAHABAB), Traditional Convenience Stores (C-Stores) (CRAHABAA)
Keywords
Where Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norfolk
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Event Tickets and Attendance: Retail's Best generates revenue by selling attendance at its networking events. The events are designed for independent retailers, forecourt operators, convenience retailers, and suppliers. Partners pay for various sponsorship tiers including Fuel Partner, Retail Partner, Energy Partner, EPoS Partner, Food for Now Partner, and exhibitor slots. The company offers brand activation and networking opportunities as part of its sponsorship packages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Event Partnership and Sponsorship Packages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Retail's Best is a UK-based B2B event company that organises a series of exclusive evening networking events for the roadside retail, convenience, forecourt, and food-to-go sectors. Each event brings together a curated guest list of independent retailers, forecourt operators, and blue-chip suppliers in a non-competitive format featuring breakout sessions, networking drinks receptions, signature food experiences, entertainment, and a smart exhibition, reaching more than 3,500 independent retailers and forecourt operators across the UK.
Product overview
Retail's Best is a bespoke business networking events company that organizes a series of exclusive evening events for the UK roadside retail, convenience, and food-to-go sectors. The company offers three main event formats: Roadside Retail Partners (forecourt-focused networking), Convenience Food & Franchise (convenience and franchise opportunities), and Synergy Sessions (closed-door industry discussions). All events feature a smart exhibition component, breakout sessions, networking drinks receptions, and signature food experiences. The company reaches over 3,500 independent retailers and forecourt operators across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Concept Events: The event organizing entity responsible for hosting Retail's Best events
Products and services
- Retail's Best Roadside Retail Partners An exclusive evening networking event bringing together the biggest names in the UK roadside retail sector, including independent retailers and forecourt operators, with blue-chip supplier partners. Each event features short breakout sessions, a networking drinks reception, a contemporary food experience, entertainment, and a smart exhibition, with around 300 influential convenience and forecourt operators in attendance.
- Retail's Best Convenience, Food & Franchise A must-attend evening event for innovative multi-site convenience retailers that connects key suppliers with over 80 leading multi-site convenience and forecourt operators. Features breakout sessions, a networking drinks reception, food experiences, and franchise opportunities including concessions, shop-in-shop concepts, modular setups, and kiosk formats.
- Retail's Best Synergy Sessions Closed-door networking sessions bringing together industry operators and suppliers for focused business discussions and partnerships in a non-competitive environment. Designed as a smaller, more focused complement to the larger Roadside Retail Partners and Convenience, Food & Franchise events.
Quantifiable outcome
- 83% of attendees say they want to see more of these style events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Gulf OilcoreGulf Oil is the Fuel Partner for the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event, bringing fuel retail expertise to the event as a key sponsor in the forecourt sector.
- Co-opcoreCo-op is the Retail Partner for the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event, showcasing their total convenience offering through Nisa wholesale to franchised Co-op stores.
- DCC Energy UKcoreDCC Energy UK serves as the Energy Partner for the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event, supporting energy sector engagement at the event.
- VSL (Vape Supplier)minorVSL is listed as a Vape Supplier Partner for the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event.
- Jordon GroupminorJordon Group is a Sub-Partner for Shopfitting & Refrigeration at the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event.
- SesamiminorSesami is a Sub-Partner for Cash Management at the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event.
- WBC (Food for Now)minorWBC is a Sub-Partner for Food for Now - Micro Market at the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event.
- TSG UKminorTSG UK is a Sub-Partner for Kiosk Payment Solutions at the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event.
- FIFO UKminorFIFO is a Sub-Partner for Phone Accessories at the Roadside Retail Partners 2026 event.
- MobilityPlazacoreMobilityPlaza is the Media Partner for Retail's Best events, providing industry coverage and promotion for the networking events targeting forecourt and convenience retailers.
- What FranchiseminorWhat Franchise is a Media Partner for Retail's Best events, particularly those focused on franchise opportunities in convenience and food service.
- Southern Co-opcoreSouthern Co-op is a Retail Partner for the Convenience, Food & Franchise 2025 event.
- MADIC UKcoreMADIC UK is a Partner at Retail's Best events, specializing in kiosk and payment solutions for the retail sector.
- MorrisonscoreMorrisons is a Franchise - Retail Partner for the Convenience, Food & Franchise 2026 event, showcasing franchise opportunities.
- GreenergycoreGreenergy was the Fuel Partner at Retail's Best Roadside Retail Partners 2025 event, key supplier to forecourt operators in the UK.
- Booker Retail PartnerscoreBooker was the Symbol Partner at Retail's Best Roadside Retail Partners 2025 event, supporting independent retailers in the forecourt sector.
- TSG UKcoreTSG UK was the EPoS & Payments Partner at Retail's Best Roadside Retail Partners 2025 event, providing kiosk payment solutions.
- InPostminorInPost is listed as an Exhibitor at the Roadside Retail Partners 2025 event, offering Parcel Locker Services.
- Christie & CominorChristie & Co is a Brand Activator/Networker at Retail's Best events, providing Property Brokerage Services to the retail sector.
- EssarcoreEssar was the Motor Fuel Partner for the Forecourt & Convenience 2024 event.
- Co-op / NisacoreCo-op/Nisa was the Retail Partner for the Forecourt & Convenience 2024 event, showcasing their wholesale offering to forecourt retailers.
- TSG UK SolutionscoreTSG UK Solutions was the Renewable Energy Partner for the Forecourt & Convenience 2024 event.
- Wild Bean Café by bpcoreWild Bean Café by bp was the Food For Now Partner for the Forecourt & Convenience 2024 event, showcasing food to go solutions.
- Concept EventscoreConcept Events is the organiser of Retail's Best events, providing the expertise in creating bespoke business networking events for the retail sector.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Reed Exhibitions (RX): Global events business behind Convenience Retail Show and broader retail trade events. Large-scale competitor with deeper sponsor pipelines; represents the existential incumbent threat if it chose to scale a forecourt-focused format.
- Clarion Events: Major UK-based events organizer covering multiple verticals including retail and franchise. Broad incumbent with resources to enter adjacent convenience/forecourt networking formats and absorb sponsor budgets.
- William Reed: Owner of The Grocer and a major UK trade media/events business for grocery and convenience retail. Most direct incumbent comparator: it runs The Grocer conferences, awards, and data products serving many of the same suppliers (Co-op, Booker, SPAR, Bestway) and overlapping retailer audiences as Retail's Best.
- Informa Markets: Global events and B2B media giant operating hundreds of trade shows across retail, food, and fuel. Comparable in business model (B2B events + content) and represents a likely acquirer profile for a niche operator like Retail's Best.
Emerging players
- KamCity: UK B2B media and events company focused on convenience and grocery retail. Emerging peer with overlapping retailer audience and a content-led model that complements its events business.
Others
- ACS (Association of Convenience Stores): UK trade association for convenience retailers running its own events and supplier engagement. Adjacent ecosystem player with overlapping retailer membership that competes for attention and supplier sponsorship spend.
- Bira (British Independent Retailers Association): UK trade association representing independent retailers across multiple verticals, including convenience. Runs member events and supplier introductions that overlap with Retail's Best's networking value proposition for independents.
Regional players
- NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores): US-headquartered trade association for the convenience and fuel retail industry with global reach. Comparable operating model (events, supplier connections, networking) but primarily serves a different geographic market; useful benchmark for international expansion potential.
Direct peers
- Convenience Store (Sprint Media): UK B2B trade publication and events organizer for the convenience retail sector. Overlaps directly with Retail's Best's audience of independent and multi-site convenience retailers and runs competing networking formats.
- Atomik Media (Forecourt Trader): UK trade media company behind Forecourt Trader, Forecourt Trader Awards, and forecourt-focused events. Direct niche competitor to Retail's Best in the forecourt retail networking space, reaching similar operator and supplier audiences.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! social profiles
Digital presenceRetail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!
What does Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! do?
Retail's Best is a UK-based B2B event company that organises a series of exclusive evening networking events for the roadside retail, convenience, forecourt, and food-to-go sectors. Each event brings together a curated guest list of independent retailers, forecourt operators, and blue-chip suppliers in a non-competitive format featuring breakout sessions, networking drinks receptions, signature food experiences, entertainment, and a smart exhibition, reaching more than 3,500 independent retailers and forecourt operators across the UK.
Is Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! a public or private company?
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! founded?
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! based?
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! is headquartered in Norfolk, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! make money?
One revenue line is on record: event Tickets and Attendance.
Who are Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Reed Exhibitions (RX), Clarion Events, William Reed and Informa Markets. KamCity is listed as an emerging player. Others are ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) and Bira (British Independent Retailers Association). NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Convenience Store (Sprint Media) and Atomik Media (Forecourt Trader).
Does Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! have an API?
No public API is recorded for Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!.
What industry is Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail! in?
Retail's Best - The networking events of the year for roadside retail, food to go & tech for retail!'s product category is B2B Networking Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAGAD, B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms, with a secondary code of CRAHABAB, Forecourt Convenience Stores (Fuel-Integrated). Its NAICS code is 445 and its SIC code is 5412.