New SEFE Energy data reveals energy costs a top concern for UK retail, but few are taking action.
As the winter months increase demand for energy usage, new data from provider SEFE Energy reveals rising energy costs are a top concern for UK retail companies, but few are taking action to improve their energy efficiency.
In its survey of 500 UK energy decision-makers in retail and industrial sectors, more than half (53%) of retail and hospitality companies say they’re aiming to reduce their energy costs.
When asked about external impacts on their business, rising energy costs are the top cited concern, at 47% - significantly higher than the rising cost of labour (32%) and broader economic downturn (31%) is to them.
While energy costs are weighing on retail companies, just 27% of those surveyed say they’ve implemented energy-saving policies iin 2025, such as data monitoring or turning off equipment when unused, and seven in 10 (70%) feel they would benefit from more advice on how to improve energy efficiency.
Olufemi Obudu, mid-market TPI manager at SEFE Energy, said: “In a challenging economic environment, it’s understandable that energy costs are weighing on retail and hospitality companies, when there are so many demands on their budgets. Making small changes to improve energy efficiency can help lower energy bills.
“As a first step, concerned companies should ask their supplier for insight into their energy consumption patterns and habits. By looking at the data, companies can better understand their energy usage and identify opportunities for savings.”
Other key findings included the fact that energy comparison sites are the most popular source of guidance on energy products among retail and hospitality businesses surveyed (45%), followed by energy providers (42%) – while 23% use an energy broker or consultant and 15% say they use AI assistants to get advice on energy products.
When asked about their energy goals for this year, reducing energy costs (53%), energy consumption (46%) and carbon emissions (29%) are the top cited objectives for the UK retail and hospitality companies surveyed.
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