Despite tough economic conditions, revenues for the world's 250 largest retailers reached $4.3 trillion in the last fiscal year (June 2012 through June 2013). The average size of the top 250 retailers exceeded $17 billion according to the 2014 Global Powers of Retailing report from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), in conjunction with STORES Media. For the first time ever, the report also includes a list of the world's top 50 e-retailers and found that more than three-quarters of them (39 companies) are part of the top 250 retailers globally.
"The global retail industry got off to a difficult start in the last year," said Dr. Ira Kalish, DTTL Chief Global Economist. "However, it is encouraging to see that the world's leading retailers were able to plough on through the difficult period to reap the rewards of increased consumer spend. This has served to provide a much needed boost to global revenues with nearly 80 percent of the top 250 (199 companies) retailers posting an increase in retail revenue. Interestingly, for the first time this year's report shows that some of the top retailers undertook a series of sell-offs in order to remain profitable and ride out the tough trading period," Kalish added.
Divestments lead to a shake-up of the top 10 global retailers
There was a shake-up among the world's 10 largest retailers last fiscal year, mostly as a result of a series of divestments. As a group, the top 10 grew more slowly than the top 250 the past fiscal year with retail revenue growth of 4.2 percent versus the 4.9 percent growth in the previous fiscal year. While Wal-Mart increased its lead, Carrefour—formerly the world's second-largest retailer—fell to fourth place following back-to-back years of declining sales primarily attributable to the spinoff of the Dia hard discount chain in July 2011. Tesco, which jumped this year to second place, was also impacted by discontinued operations after shuttering its Fresh & Easy operations in the United States.
Emerging markets enjoy strong demand while Europe increases dependence on foreign markets
Retailers based in emerging markets continued to enjoy strong consumer demand in fiscal year 2012. Unlike the headwinds retailers in mature markets faced, emerging market tailwinds continued to fuel aggressive organic growth. Emerging market retailers accounted for more than half (26) of the world's 50 fastest-growing retailers in fiscal year 2012 including all four Russian top 250 companies, six of seven Africa/Middle East retailers, and six of nine based in Latin America.
"Over recent years, the developing economies have emerged as one of the most promising retail markets," said Vicky Eng, DTTL Global Sector Leader, Retail. "Latin American retailers led the way with 15 percent retail revenue growth followed by retailers in the Africa/Middle East region. Retailers are successfully adapting their strategies to adequately cater to the growing middle-class consumers in emerging economies where there is strong demand for consumer goods, ranging from cars and electronics to personal care products."
European retailers faced another year of tough trading as the region fell back into recession when austerity measures, put in place to cope with the Eurozone credit crisis, resulted in low growth and high unemployment in many European countries. Retailers based in Germany and particularly the UK underperformed on the top line compared with Europe's top 250 retailers as a whole. Asia/Pacific retailers (excluding Japan) posted solid gains, but not at the double-digit level seen in the prior two years. Japanese retailers recovered from a devastating fiscal year 2011 but continued to trail the other countries and regions analyzed.
In the United States, growth cooled to 4.3 percent for the top 250 U.S. retailers, down from 6.3 percent in fiscal year 2011. For the North American region as a whole, and Canada in particular, revenue growth got a boost from c-store operator and licensor Alimentation Couche-Tard. As a result of a significant acquisition in 2012, Couche-Tard is now the largest retailer based in Canada.
