Globalisation of retail is not an emerging or imminent strategy, but a current focus for many retailers. Established retailers recognise that with domestic organic growth becoming more difficult to sustain in mature markets, expansion into new markets is a necessary step towards securing future profitability. According to Deloitte's 2007 figures, retailers with operations in more than ten countries posted an average net profit margin of 4.7% compared with 3.1% for those in only one or two countries.

The timing of this report is critical in light of events in today's market and the recognised importance to understand the potential of the global food retail market over the next five years. Retailers need to make sense of the economic situation impacting the western financial markets, appreciate the potential impact of rising food prices and general living costs, analyse the influence of growing fuel and commodity prices, and appreciate that consumer confidence appears to be falling.

The primary aim of this study is to understand the impact, pace and current status of globalisation in the food retail market and the potential impact this will have on the food, drink and retail industry over the next five years. The report also considers current trends influencing the globalisation of the food retail market.

The top 50 food retailers are identified and the top ten are analysed in terms of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, market growth strategies, product development, relations with suppliers and branded manufacturers, and various other activities over the past 12-18 months.

Report coverage:

Chapter one provides an introduction to the subject of globalisation of the food retail market, including the impact of the economy and the global price of food.

Chapter two looks at the top global retailers, ranking the top 50 mass grocery retailers by sales. We then profile the top five - Walmart, Carrefour, Tesco, Metro and Kroger - in more detail, including background, divisions and formats, financial overview and SWOT analysis.

Chapter three analyses merger and acquisition activity in the industry over the last 18 months. We list the 15 most active emerging markets of 2007, highlight recent deals in the global market as well as the latest speculation and rumours.

Chapter four identifies the global markets rising stars and formats of the future, including Indian newcomer Bharti, top Russian retailer X5, multi-channel retailing, sustainable retailing, online retailing, and the discount format.

Chapter five focuses on the four emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China (a.k.a. the BRIC countries), including their challenges, top retailers and five year forecasts.

Chapter six offers conclusions and future forecasts for this market, providing global retail food market value forecasts 2006-2013, what the future holds for consolidated retail markets, the power of the key players and the importance of enhancing the customer experience.

Chapter 1 Introduction: Globalisation of the food retail market
Economic downturn: The impact on the global food retail market
The global price of food

Chapter 2 The top five global retailers
Wal-Mart
Introduction
Financial overview
Divisions and formats
Background
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Carrefour
Introduction
Financial overview
Divisions and formats
Background
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Tesco
Introduction
Financial overview
Divisions and formats
Background
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Metro AG
Introduction
Financial overview
Divisions and formats
Background
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Kroger
Introduction
Financial overview
Divisions and formats
Background
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

Chapter 3 Mergers and acquisitions
Recent merger and acquisition deals in the global market
Recent Wal-Mart M&A/partnership deals
Speculation and rumour

Chapter 4 Rising stars and formats of the future
Introduction
Bharti
X5.
Stores of the future
Multi-channel retailing
Sustainable retailing on a global scale
Shrinking stores
Online retailing and Web 2.0
Focus on supermarkets
Focus on convenience stores
Focus on discounters
Focus on hypermarkets

Chapter 5 Emerging markets
Introduction
Brazil
Challenges
Future forecasts
Russia
Focus on discounters in Russia
Location, location, location
Future forecasts
India
Focus on hypermarkets in India
Challenges
Future forecasts
China
Shanghai Bailian Group, aka ‘The Great Wal-Mart of China’
Challenges
Future forecasts

Chapter 6 Conclusions and future forecasts
Global retail food market value forecasts
The future for consolidated retail markets
Power to the retailers
Corporate social responsibility
Enhancing the customer experience

List of tables
Table 1: Top 50 global mass grocery retailers, 2006
Table 2: Wal-Mart financial overview, 2006-2008 (US$m and %)
Table 3: Carrefour, 2007 net sales by geography (EURm)
Table 4: Carrefour total retail outlet numbers, 2007 (no of outlets)
Table 5: Tesco Group, financial overview, 2007-2008 (GBPm)
Table 6: Metro financial and operating overview, 2005-2007
Table 7: Kroger financial overview, 2007 (US$bn)
Table 8: Most active emerging retail markets, 2007 (%)
Table 9: UK online food retail sector, estimated market shares, 2008 (%)
Table 10: Brazil overall retail market value sales forecasts, 2006-2013 (US$bn and %)
Table 11: Brazil grocery retail sales value forecasts, 2006-2013 (US$bn and %)
Table 12: Russia’s top five discounters’ market share by retail value, 2004-2006 (%)
Table 13: Russia grocery retail market value forecasts, 2006-2013 (US$bn and %)
Table 14: India’s top five hypermarket companies’ market share by retail value, 2004-2006 (%)
Table 15: India grocery retail market value forecasts, 2006-2013 (US$bn and %)
Table 16: Top ten retailers in China by sales value, 2006
Table 17: China grocery retail market value forecasts, 2006-2013 (US$tn and %)
Table 18: Global grocery retail market value forecasts, 2006-2013 (US$tn)
Table 19: Grocery retail market sales forecasts in France, Germany, Italy and the UK, 2006-2013 (EURbn)