Considering the lack of globalization, South African retail companies, particularly their food retailers, are large in comparison to other retailers around the world. Between the release of the Global Powers of Retailing 2010 report and the 2011 report, Shoprite Holdings rocketed from a global ranking of 130 into the 95th position. That would be impressive movement compared to [retailers in other countries], but such upward movement on the global retailing stage is truly impressive.

Pick ‘n Pay and Massmart Holdings experienced similar upward movement on the 2011, but SPAR group lost significantly in the global retail revenue ranks. Two new South African companies broke onto the Global Powers of Retailing list in 2011. One of the South African newcomers is Woolworths, which is also ranked as one of Australia’s largest retail chains.

African retailing is really South African retailing, where almost all of the continent’s bustling commerce activity takes place. Cities like Johannesburg and Durban have mega malls that are over 37 acres large, roughly half the size of the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN in the U.S.

Each year a “Global Powers of Retailing” report is compiled by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine, ranking retailers from all over the world according to total revenue. In 2011, the 14th annual list was released, ranking 250 retailers from 32 different countries.

What follows is the largest retail companies with headquarters in South Africa. This 2011 Global Powers of Retailing list reflects the revenue that was generated in 2009, which was still a year of intense global retailing recession.

Source: www.fastmoving.co.za