Stockport law firm Gorvins has helped fifth-generation family-owned business, William Reed, to acquire trade publication Retail Week and its sister conference, World Retail Congress.

William Reed is a digital, data and events business that has been serving the food and drinks sector for over 160 years. Retail Week and World Retail Congress join titles Morning Advertiser, The Grocer, and British Baker in William Reed’s portfolio of 25+ market-leading global brands.

Charles Reed, CEO at William Reed, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues from Retail Week and World Retail Congress. Retail Week is a very strong well-established brand, with a combination of reader revenue, excellent events, and a marketing solutions business that delivers great value to the retail community. World Retail Congress has been shaping the future of retail since 2007 and complements our strategy of owning market-leading global brands.”

This continues the growth of William Reed’s events offer, following its 2022 acquisitions of The London Coffee Festival and Rethink, an events business focused on agri-tech and food-tech.

Retail Week and Retail World Congress will retain their own identity and operate as a standalone team within William Reed.

Hanna Jackson, Managing Director of Retail Week and World Retail Congress said, “The sale is the start of a great new chapter for Retail Week and World Retail Congress.”

William Reed was advised by Gorvins Corporate Commercial Partner Christian Mancier (pictured) who was assisted by David Rogers (Partner – Employment) and Chloe Murphy (Trainee Solicitor – Corporate/Commercial).

Christian Mancier, Partner, Gorvins, said: “This is the second transaction we have worked on for William Reed and it’s a privilege to work with such a market-leading family-owned business. Our work will help the business grow and evolve a secure future for many familiar British brands and the next generation.”

William Reed is a fifth-generation, family-owned business which has been in operation since 1862 and operates in the UK, France, the US and Singapore.