Selfridges is the world’s best

Selfridges has been named as the Best Department Store in the World.

The prestigious London flagship store – famed for its lavish window displays – beat off competition from New York’s Bloomingdale’s and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong to be given the title by the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores and the International Association of Department Stores.

Paul Kelly, Selfridges vice-chairman, said: “We are delighted to have won this very special award and very proud of our teams who have all contributed in making this happen. This is very much in recognition of their hard work. This centenary-old brand built on the most extraordinary heritage, confirms that Selfridges is the most relevant and exciting department store today.”

Selfridges is only the second store to win the award after Saks Fifth Avenue in New York was given the inaugural prize two years ago.

Stores were judged on the strength of their brand, innovation, in-store experience, customer service and financial results.

Selfridges was founded by an American, George Selfridge, in 1909 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1998 before being bought by Galen Weston, a Canadian businessman, in 2003.