Analysis
1. Top Global Retailer Strategies
i. WAL-MART
Wal-Mart's uniqueness comes from an innovative business strategy, with a legendary supply chain. Wal-Mart's sophisticated distribution system and information technology to track inventory has significantly improved its efficiency and productivity -- making it far more profitable than other retailers.
In addition to its overall business strategy, Wal-Mart's growth strategy is strikingly different from most other big retailers. Most companies establish stores near major urban areas with a potentially large client base. Wal-Mart's market dominance does give it extraordinary power to pressure suppliers to reduce their costs, a Wal-Mart Supercenter offers prices 14 percent lower than its rivals, according to a 2002 study by UBS Warburg.
But, several academics and human rights groups say Wal-Mart's commitment to "Every Day Low Prices" forces the company to drive down labor costs in its own stores and in its suppliers -- despite the negative affects on workers.
ii. Carrefour
Carrefour has been more successful in countries like China than the iconic WALMART because of the fact that they “sell in a Chinese way to Chinese consumers.” Carrefour was the innovative pioneer of the hypermarket concept. The company has a strategy of tying up with the local producers, to transport the goods directly to their local Carrefour stores, eliminating the warehouses in between and hence the cost advantage.
Thanks to autonomous managers and a decentralised organization, the stores are free to take decisions at a local level, and hence customize products for each region.
iii. TESCO
TESCO is the largest British retailer by both global sales and domestic market share with profits exce ...