Highlights
- The UK’s retail sector has been hit hard due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Omicron variant has again hit the sector’s recovery yet again.
- Retail spending in the UK went up by 6.3% in October 2021 alone as compared to the same period in 2019.
The UK’s retail sector has been hit hard due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Spending the first quarter of 2021 in a lockdown, the retailers faced a rough time reviving to pre-pandemic level of sales but were able to kickstart their recovery as the situation became better in the next few months. Retail spending in the UK went up by 6.3% in October 2021 alone as compared to the same period in 2019.
However, with Omicron variant hitting the economy in the later months of 2021, the UK is struggling to endure the blow yet again. Its still hard to predict how the retail sectors would perform in 2022 but with fast-moving innovation and blurring distinction between physical and online presence of stores, the sector is expected to expand and do well even during these harsh times.
Here are 5 UK speciality retail stocks that you can buy in 2022.
RELATED READ: Omicron impacts UK high street: Are these 2 retail stocks still a buy?

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WH Smith Plc (LON: SMWH)
WH Smith plc is a leading UK-based retailer which is famous for selling news, books, and convenience. The market cap of the FTSE250-listed company stood at £1,761.39 million and it has given a return of 2.96% to its shareholders in the last one year as of 5 January 2022. WH Smith plc’s shares closed at GBX 1,564.00 on 5 January 2022.
JD Sports Fashion PLC (LON: JD)
JD Sports Fashion PLC is a global retailer of branded sportswear and fashionwear. The market cap of the FTSE100-listed company stood at £11,234.42 million and it has given a return of 32.15% to its shareholders in the last one year. JD Sports Fashion PLC’s shares closed at GBX 219.00 on 5 January 2022.
Frasers Group PLC (LON: FRAS)
UK-based retail and intellectual property group Frasers Group PLC is engaged in selling apparel, sports and leisure clothing, footwear, and equipment. The market cap of the FTSE250-listed company stood at £3,874.65 million and it has given a return of 73.85% to its shareholders in the last one year. Frasers Group PLC’s shares closed at GBX 791.00 on 5 January 2022.
RELATED READ: Is it the right time to buy these 3 apparel retailers’ shares?
Dunelm Group plc (LON: DNLM)
Dunelm Group plc manufactures blinds, curtains, and accessories in its own factories. The market cap of the FTSE250-listed company stood at £2,799.41 million and it has given a return of 9.18% to its shareholders in the last one year. Dunelm Group plc’s shares closed at GBX 1,391.00 on 5 January 2022.
Pets at Home Group PLC (LON: PETS)
Pets at Home Group PLC sells a range of products for pets, ranging from food, toys, bedding, medication to accessories. The market cap of the FTSE250-listed company stood at £2,325.00 million and it has given a return of 4.98% to its shareholders in the last one year. Pets at Home Group plc’s shares closed at GBX 464.00 on 5 January 2022.