The National Retail Federation released its annual list of the ‘Top 50 Global Retailers’ on Wednesday. The list, developed with help from London-based data analytics company Kantar, is a compilation of the 50 most impactful international retailers based on their operations at the start of 2021.
The results show Walmart continues to be the world’s largest retailer, and holding on to the same rankings as 2021, Amazon.com came in second. Schwarz Group came in at No. 3 and Aldi came in fourth. Costco came in as a newcomer to the top five, rising from No. 6 the previous year.
Other ranking changes in the top 10 include No. 13 Alibaba (down from No. 5 in 2021), No. 6 Ahold Delhaize (up from No. 7), No. 7 Carrefour (up from No. 8), No. 8 IKEA (up from No. 9), No 9. Seven & I (up from No. 13) and No. 10 The Home Depot (up from No. 15).
“The second year of the global pandemic challenged global retail in 2021 as it did in 2020,” said Kantar’s David Marcotte. “And, just as in 2020, global retail emerged with far more revenue and profit as it managed changes in shopper needs and routines.”
Kantar’s ranking methodology uses a system in which points are given to retailers based on their domestic and international retail revenues. To qualify for the rankings, retailers must have a direct investment in at least three countries.
See the complete list of retailers and read Kantar’s analysis of the global power players and notable trends here.
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