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Walmart
Today, Walmart is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to Forbes. It also ranked number one in the Fortune 500 list of companies. Walmart runs a chain of warehouse stores and large discount department stores, including UK giant Asda. It has more than 8,986 retail units and operates under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart has lifted revenues by remodelling its stores and through inexpensive private-label goods, offering everything from frozen pizza to patio furniture in one stop.
Kroger
Kroger is an American retail supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Ohio. The nation's largest grocer operates more than 2,400 food stores under two dozen banner names, including City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, and Ralphs. It also owns convenience stores (Turkey Hill, QuikStop), 374 jewellery boutiques (Littman, Barclay), and department stores (Fred Meyer). Kroger pioneered the first supermarket surrounded on all four sides by parking lots in the 1930s.
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Costco Wholesale
Costcois the largest membership warehouse club chain in the US and from 2009 it has been recognised as the third largest retailer in the United States and the ninth largest in the world. Since 2004, Costco's revenue has exploded to $71 billion from $47 billion and this is looking to increase further when the company opens 15 new stores across international markets this year.
Home Depot
Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the US, ahead of rival Lowe’s, and the fourth largest general retailer. With the economic downturn having a significant impact on revenue growth, CEO Frank Blake is slowing down the company’s expansion plans and will focus more closely on customer service. This is something Lowe’s is better known for.
Target
In 2009, Target was ranked number 19 on Fortune Magazine’s list of ‘Most Admired Companies’. It is looking to grow revenue with a number of its recent celebrity fashion ventures, which include a footwear deal with Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and clothing line from the highly esteemed Jean Paul Gaultier and Anna Sui. This year the company will spend $1 billion on an extensive remodelling initiative, renovating 340 of its 1,700-plus stores.
