Three US retailers in the global top 10
Three of America’s biggest shopping names have featured amongst the top 10 global retailers in an innovative report compiled by STORES magazine and Kantar Consulting.
The rankings took a fresh approach to comparing retailers in an attempt to overcome currency fluctuations and exchange rates while also embracing new forms of retail.
So, who exactly made the grade?
The report
Using an innovative ranking system, STORES Magazine focused on retailers with a direct investment in at least three countries, and saw each given points for international revenue, participation in franchising and alliances outside their local region, and their ability to sell via online marketplaces.
“The result is a fresh look at the 50 most international retailers based on their operations at the start of 2018,” STORES reflects. And the winner is…
Number 1 – Walmart
It comes as little surprise that Walmart features high on the list of global retailers, but what is interesting is that it far surpasses e-commerce giant Amazon.
STORES Magazine explains: “Even with points given for marketplace platforms and points reduced for domestic revenues, Walmart tops the international ranking, with more than twice as many points as its nearest rival”.
In cold, hard figures, Walmart’s international division reported consolidated revenue of $118 billion, global total revenues of $500 billion, and marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue of over $20 billion, derived from 6360 stores internationally in 2017.
Number 2 – Amazon
Amazon is often touted as the world’s largest retailer based on market capitalization, but in the STORES report the e-commerce giant falls into second place. In 2017 it had international consolidated revenue of $53 billion, global total revenues of $160 billion, marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue of over $200 billion, and seven stores internationally.
“In this ranking, Amazon comes in second and can close the gap with Walmart if it continues to deliver solid international growth and buy rivals as it did when it purchased Whole Foods Market,” STORES Magazine says.
Number 6 – Costco
STORES notes Costco is currently “quietly expanding into one country at a time”.
In 2017, the alternative mass grocery chain boasted international consolidated revenue of $35 billion, global total revenues of $120 billion, marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue of more than $750 billion and 100 stores internationally.
Who else was in the top 10?
Although the US took out three positions in the top 10 global list including rankings one and two, there were an array of other international retailers featured throughout the list. Rounding out the top 10 were:
Number 3 – Alternative Mass grocery retailer Schwartz Group of Germany
- International consolidated revenue – $63.51 billion
- Global total revenues – $101.94 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – N/A
- International stores – 7398
Number 4 – Mass grocery retailer Carrefour of France
- International consolidated revenue – $48.66 billion
- Global total revenues – $89.16 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – less than $10 billion
- International stores – 6729
Number 5 – Mass grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize of the Netherlands
- International consolidated revenue – $55.46 billion
- Global total revenues – $70.92 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – Less than $10 billion
- International stores – 4474
Number 7 – E-commerce retailer Alibaba of China
- International consolidated revenue – $7.88 billion
- Global total revenues – $39.94 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – Over $750 billion
- International stores – 100
Number 8 – Alternative/mass grocer retailer Aldi of Germany
- International consolidated revenue – $37.95 billion
- Global total revenues – $84.98 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – N/A
- International stores – 6509
Number 9 – Mass grocery retailer Auchan of France
- International consolidated revenue – $41.62 billion
- Global total revenues – $63.73 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – N/A
- International stores – 1710
Number 10 – Mass grocery retailer Tesco of the UK
- International consolidated revenue – $19.15 billion
- global total revenues – $74.14 billion
- Marketplace, franchise and alliance revenue – less than $10 billion
- International stores – 3356
Other notable US mentions
Meanwhile, a host of other US retailers fell into the top 50, including:
- Walgreens Boots Alliance (11)
- The Home Depot (13)
- McDonald’s (22)
- Lowe’s (23)
- TJX (30)
- YUM! Brands (33)
- Best Buy (34)
- Starbucks (37)
- eBay (38)
- Gap (45)
STORES Magazine explained the rankings were designed to generate discussion, stimulate debate and allow for more in-depth exploration.
