WHSmith

WHSmith is a retail group which was established in 1792 in the UK by Henry Walton Smith and Anna Smith. The company specialises in the distribution of books, food items, drinks, travel accessories, etc. It operates an online store as well.

WHSmith has also expanded over the years by acquiring other businesses such as InMotion, a chain of Tech stores in the travel retail sector and Marshall Retail Group, a chain of over 170 stores that allowed the firm to grow its business in the US. 

WHSmith is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE mid 250 Index.

Currently, WHSmith is present in the UK as well as 30 other countries across Europe, Asia, Middle East, America, Australasia, etc. 

WHSmith operates in the following sectors:

• Travel Retail
• Retail Sector

WHSmith owns several banners including(not limited to):

• WHSmith Fresh +: offers fresh food.  This brand was reported to serve 30,000 customers per week and prepare more than 15 000 coffees. 
• Funky Pigeon: acquired in 2010, this label is an online personalised greeting cards and gift company
• InMotion: acquired in 2018, this brand owns over 115 stores across 43 US airports, and are represented in 23 of the top 25 busiest US airports. InMotion provides lifestyle products and electronics.
• Zoodle: offers a selection of children’s books, toys, gifts and games
• The Bookshop by WHSmith: provides tailor-made books
• WHSmith: offers newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for travel retail

WHSmith operates businesses in the travel retail sector which includes over 150 points of sales in airports and 290 stores in railway stations within the UK and over 580 internationally. 

The company operates stores under its own banner, WHSmith. 

In addition to that, the company is a Mark & Spencer franchisee, operating around 20 M&S stores in hospitals. 

WHSmith also collaborates with retailers, pharmacies and retail chains. The company has operations in over 140 stores in hospitals

In fact, WHSmith is constantly looking to enter new markets where it can open new stores. Most recently, the company has set up stores in malls in the UAE and universities in India.

In 2020, WHSmith achieved a total turnover of € 1182.2 million and employed 13 000 people.

WHSmith provides products in the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: coffee, chocolate and many more
• Fresh & Chilled Food: ready made meals

WHSmith works with thousands of brands such as Cadbury, Crayola, Disney, Faber-Castell, Parker Lego and several others.

The firm has a sourcing team of 30 people in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

WHSmith operates its own distribution centres around the world and its own delivery network which includes double deck trailers. 

WHSmith has been striving to lower its environmental impact. The company has worked to reduce waste and remove packaging whenever possible. Moreover, it has been able to reduce its carbon emissions by 66%. 

WHSmith has also been supporting various charities, donating a total of € 13.9 million in 2020 and launching several Children Literacy Programmes. 

WHSmith’s online shop can be found on www.whsmith.co