Huge jump in number of transport, retail and manufacturing companies acquired by foreign companies
The number of UK transport, retail and manufacturing businesses acquired by overseas companies soared in 2025 over 2024. The international delivery expert Parcelhero says the number of foreign takeovers of British companies significantly outstripped UK acquisitions of overseas firms.
The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) mergers and acquisitions tables reveal a spike in the number of major UK transport, retail and manufacturing businesses being acquired by foreign companies in 2025, compared to the previous year. This is according to an analysis from the international delivery expert Parcelhero.
Parcelhero says that 90 UK companies valued at over £1m in the sector which includes retail and transport businesses were acquired by foreign firms in 2025, with the combined value of the acquisitions worth £17.7bn. British manufacturers also faced a slew of foreign company takeovers. A total of 166 British manufacturers valued at over £1m were acquired by overseas companies, with a combined value of £18bn.
Parcelhero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks MILT, says: ‘If that sounds like a lot of UK companies falling into foreign ownership, that’s because it is. In 2024, just 72 UK companies in the sector which includes transport, warehousing and retail were taken over by overseas firms, with the combined value of those acquisitions just £3.8bn. Similarly, 151 manufacturers valued at over £1m were taken over by foreign companies in 2024, with a combined value of £6.3bn.
‘That means that the value of companies in the ONS category which includes retail, transport and warehousing companies bought by foreign firms jumped by 363% last year, while the value of UK manufacturers acquired by overseas companies rose by around 185%. As just one example, the UK’s Deliveroo plc was taken over by the US company Doordash Inc in a merger that was completed in the final quarter of 2025.
‘As ever with statistics, that’s not the full story however. Oddly, the government groups retail, transport, warehousing and postal courier companies together with accommodation and hospitality in these tables. This combined “Wholesale, transport & accommodation” sector, then, also includes some companies not directly involved in logistics and retail. Nonetheless, the figures do give a useful overall picture of the current state of the retail and logistics sector.
‘Overseas investment in UK firms can actually bring many positives, of course. Not only in terms of new capital and investment, but also fresh ideas and perspectives.
‘Mergers and acquisitions were not entirely a one-way street last year, either. Some UK-based firms acquired companies based abroad. 20 “wholesale, transport & accommodation” sector companies, the category which includes logistics, warehousing and courier companies, acquired overseas firms – to the total value of £1.6bn. Similarly, 43 UK-based manufacturers acquired companies abroad valued at £4.99bn. however, there is still a big difference between the number of UK firms acquiring overseas companies and foreign companies snapping up UK firms.
‘The UK domestic M&A market was relatively quiet in comparison last year. 106 wholesale, transport & accommodation UK businesses valued at over £1m acquired other UK companies, with a combined value of just under £1.4bn. 111 UK manufacturers acquired UK companies, with a combined value of just shy of £1.2bn.
‘The fact so many UK retailers in particular are falling into the ownership of foreign companies is just one of the issues it currently faces. Some retailers have been reinvigorated under new management, while others have struggled. The High Street may not have reached a dead end by 2030 but, in this new age of retail, it will have arrived at its biggest crossroads. You can read and download our new report at https://newsroom.parcelhero.com/the-high-street-fights-back-final.pdf