Consumer and retail

A&O Shearman advises many of the world’s leading businesses in the Consumer and Retail sector, helping them to capitalise on evolving opportunities whilst navigating complex challenges and regulation.

We work with a broad range of businesses making a mark in the Consumer & Retail sector, be it in consumer goods, food and beverage, apparel and luxury goods, food and clothing retailing, or leisure and hospitality.

The Consumer and Retail industry as a whole is undergoing exceptional change as businesses seek to keep pace with rapid technological advancement, heightened competition, the rise of connected consumers, trade disruptions, ESG pressures and proliferating regulation. It is critical for our clients to respond to these opportunities and challenges to establish and maintain their competitive advantage.

We understand the importance of staying ahead of these developments and our multidisciplinary global team is dedicated to helping businesses in this sector achieve their strategic objectives whilst navigating the complex regulatory landscape and protecting their interests.

We support our clients in the Consumer & Retail sector in all major areas of their businesses, from strategic growth and building partnerships, to brand and data optimisation and management, e-commerce strategies, consumer and commercial disputes, competition, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity. We advise businesses on their ESG issues, including on diligence and risk management across their supply chain. We also guide our clients through their commercial transactions, including franchising, logistics and distribution.

The combination of our legal expertise, deep sector understanding and industry insights guarantees our clients the highest quality advice.

Representative matters

Adeptio on the USD3.4bn takeover of the Kuwait Food Company, Americana, which owns the Middle East franchises for KFC and Pizza Hut and produces branded consumer foods.
Ahold on its EUR25bn merger with Delhaize to create Europe’s largest listed food retailer by market capitalisation and one of the largest retailers in the U.S., with more than 6,500 stores globally.
Asahi Group on its USD11.3bn acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries, the Australian arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev; on its EUR7.3bn acquisition of the Central & Eastern European business of SABMiller; and on its EUR2.55bn acquisition of Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime.
Campari Group on its USD1.32bn acquisition of Cognac Courvoisier from Beam Suntory; and on its acquisition of the wine and spirits distributor, Baron Philippe de Rothschild France Distribution.
Etsy on the USD1.6bn acquisition of U.K. unicorn Depop, a community-driven fashion marketplace.
Hanesbrands on the sale of its European innerwear business to Regent, L.P.

JDE Peet's, the world's leading pure-play coffee and tea company, on a long-term global license agreement to manufacture, market and sell Caribou consumer and foodservice coffee products, and on a long-term strategic arrangement under which JDE Peet’s will supply coffee products for sale in Caribou’s coffeehouses.
Marks & Spencer on its GBP750m food delivery joint venture with Ocado, the UK’s leading digital grocer; and on its acquisition of Gist Limited, the principal contract logistics provider to M&S Food.
Thai Beverage on its USD4.8bn acquisition of a majority stake in Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), Vietnam’s largest brewer.
Walgreens on its acquisition of a USD6.7bn 45% stake in Alliance Boots, the leading international pharmacy, health and beauty retailer, and on its subsequent acquisition of the remaining 55% stake for USD5.3bn in cash plus stock.
Wittington Investments, Limited on the GBP4bn sale of its European luxury retail group comprising Selfridges, De Bijenkorf, Brown Thomas and Arnotts to The Central Group and Signa Holding GmbH.