Perspectives
Global Powers of Retailing 2013
Retail beyond
The 16th annual Global Powers of Retailing identifies the 250 largest retailers around the world. It also examines trends for retailers to consider as they plan their growth strategies and discuss "Q" ratio - a way of drawing inferences about the future performance of retailers by examining current financial information.
This year's report includes a special section, "Retail Beyond," which discusses how the collision of the virtual and physical worlds has fundamentally changed consumer purchasing behaviors. The question is how retailers can find a path to success that not only addresses the needs of their customers today, but is also flexible enough to continually evolve with rapidly evolving customer interest and expectations.
The report says retail revenue increased at a compound annual rate of 22 percent for the 50 fastest-growing retailers over the 2006-2011 period. Seven of 11 Top 250 retailers based in Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR are among the Fastest 50. It epitomizes the growth potentials of emerging markets, underpinned by burgeoning middle class, youthful populations and sizable foreign direct investment.
Wu-Mart, a Chinese operator of hypermarkets and convenience stores, was the first and fourth fastest growing retailers in China and global ranking respectively with a CAGR of 39.9% between 2006 and 2011.