The UK Retail Finance Landscape 2026 (Unsecured & Asset Finance)
Sentiment towards the retail sector remains positive among both unsecured and asset finance lenders.
Appetite for acquisitions, refurbishments and reinvestment plans continues to strengthen, and lenders are placing greater emphasis on the experience of operators and requiring more detailed explanations of funding requirements to support larger and more complex transactions.
We continue to see strong demand for both unsecured and asset finance from first-time buyers through to established forecourt and convenience store groups. These flexible solutions suit operators of all sizes and at different stages of growth.
The two most common funding requirements remain acquisitions and refurbishment projects.
• Unsecured lending is increasingly being used to support acquisitions, either as a standalone funding solution or alongside a mortgage to contribute towards purchase costs. We are also seeing a growing number of clients utilise available cash for the acquisition itself while using unsecured finance to fund stock and other associated purchase costs.
• Refurbishment funding also remains a key area of activity, ranging from smaller projects such as shelving replacements through to full convenience store and forecourt redevelopments. The asset finance market has become increasingly competitive, with larger funders entering the sector and providing customers with greater choice and more competitive funding terms.
Unsecured and asset finance remain well positioned to support the retail sector’s growth and reinvestment ambitions, supported by strong lender appetite, competition and flexible funding structures.
Read the full market review here: Retail Market Review 2026 | Christie & Co