Macy's Is Closing Stores. Carrefour Is Opening in Africa. What's Really Happening in Global Retail | World Retail Signals

In this episode of World Retail Signals, co-hosts Ian McGarrigle, Chairman at World Retail Congress, and Niamh Stone, Programme Director at World Retail Congress, join Alex to unpack the retail developments shaping leadership thinking across the UK, Europe, Africa and the US.

The conversation opens with the rise in shop crime across the UK and Europe, and why retailers are increasingly framing it not just as shrink, but as a serious worker safety issue. The episode explores how retailers are responding through store-level security investment, AI-enabled monitoring, and stronger collaboration with governments and law enforcement.

The discussion then turns to the UK consumer electronics and home appliances sector, including strong results from AO and leadership change at Currys, before examining the implications of JD.com’s Ceconomy move and what it could mean for the European retail landscape.

Other themes include:

Why retailers such as Uniqlo and Sephora are re-entering markets with sharper positioning

Gymshark’s experiential expansion in the US

Carrefour’s franchise-led growth in Africa, including Nigeria and Ghana

The “story of two halves” in US retail, where Macy’s store closures sit alongside expansion from TJ Maxx and Trader Joe’s

This episode is a sharp look at retail strategy, physical store investment, international expansion and the signals retail leaders should be watching now.

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Chapter timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:41 Shop crime rises across the UK and Europe

01:03 From shrink to retail worker safety

01:37 Security investment, AI monitoring and police collaboration

02:10 AO growth and Currys leadership transition

03:26 JD.com, Ceconomy and consumer electronics competition

04:36 Uniqlo and Sephora re-enter markets with stronger positioning

05:17 Gymshark expands with experiential retail in the US

06:45 Carrefour grows in Africa with Nigeria franchise partnership

08:52 Macy’s closures vs TJ Maxx and Trader Joe’s expansion

10:14 Are department stores really in decline?

10:55 Why physical retail investment still matters

11:15 Closing remarks

Host bio

Ian McGarrigle is Chairman at World Retail Congress and co-host of World Retail Signals, where he tracks the trends, operators and market shifts shaping global retail.

Niamh Stone is Programme Director at World Retail Congress and co-host of World Retail Signals, bringing perspective on the strategic themes and executive conversations driving the sector.

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