Top 10 Global Retailers

Nearly 60 percent of the world's top 250 retailers were operating in more than one country in 2009 according to Deloitte's just released annual report "Global Powers of Retailing." Of the 147 retailers on the list with operations outside their domestic market, 115 had a presence in more than one sub-region, while 32 operated only within their sub-region.

Retail industry pundits have been predicting the imminent globalization of the industry for the better part of two decades. Though there has been a great deal of globalization, the industry still lags many others, such as consumer products, hospitality, telecommunications and entertainment.

In other words, there's opportunity for growth, especially for the big players interested in acquiring existing operations in emerging markets. Here, we take a look at Deloitte's top-10 retailers from around the globe — all but two of which operate in numerous countries.

Posted: 9 January, 2011

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: US
Countries of operation: 1
2009 Revenue: $65.35 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 3.8 percent

Target was No. 10 among global retailers this year, but in Deloitte's breakdown by product sector, Target came in second among diversified retailers, only behind Germany's Metro AG.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: US
Countries of operation: 5
2009 Revenue: $66.17 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 4.0 percent

Home Depot dropped two places on this year's list, reflecting the collapse of the US housing market and continued slide in home improvement sales.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: Germany
Countries of operation: 18
2009 Revenue: $67.70
2009 Profit Margin: n/a

Hard discounter Aldi was one of only three retailers to make the top-10 list that also managed to outpace the top 250's 1.3 percent composite growth rate. The German retailer had 3.8 percent sales growth.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: US
Countries of operation: 9
2009 Revenue: $71.42 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 1.5 percent

Costco moved up one place in this year's top-10 list, and also climbed to third place on the top-10 North American retailers list.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: US
Countries of operation: 1
2009 Revenue:$76.73 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 0.1 percent

Food retailers showed resilience over the recessionary times and Kroger was no exception. The sector increased both its share of companies in Deloitte's top 250 list and also its share of sales. In 2009, the sector accounted for more than half of the companies on the list and more than two-thirds of sales.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: Germany
Countries of operation: 25
2009 Revenue: $77.22 billion
2009 Profit Margin: n/a

Germany's Schwarz was among three top-10 retailers to outpace the top-10 250's 1.3 percent composite growth rate — by the skin of its teeth at 1.4 percent.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: UK
Countries of operation: 13
2009 Revenue: $90.43 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 4.1 percent

Like Schwarz and Aldi, this British retailer also saw greater sales growth (the highest among the top 10 at 4.8 percent) than the top 250's 1.3 percent composite growth rate.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: Germany
Countries of operation: 33
2009 Revenue: $91 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 0.8 percent

The German retail giant was the top ranking company among the five German retailers to make the top-10 list, but one of only four of the top-10 retailers to see decreased sales growth in 2009. Despite that decrease, Metro managed to top Deloitte's sub-category of diversified retailers.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: France
Countries of operation: 36
2009 Revenue: $122 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 0.5 percent

French retailer Carrefour was one of only four of the top-10 retailers to see declining sales in 2009 in spite of its presence in 36 countries and its No. 1 slot among European retailers.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

Country of Origin: US
Countries of operation: 16
2009 Revenue: $404 billion
2009 Profit Margin: 3.6 percent

Wal-Mart is the undisputed retail leader in North America and tops the global list of retailers, but the company's international operations in 15 countries outside the United States generate just under 25 percent of annual sales.

Source: Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing

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