Retailers from China and Russia have for the first time entered the list of the world's 250 largest retailers, according to a new report, 2008 Global Powers of Retail, from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, in conjunction with STORES magazine.

According to the report, a total of six retailers from the two countries have entered the Top 250 rankings, including Chinese retailer Bailian Group, which entered the list at number 101. The highest-ranked Russian retailer was X5 Retail Group N.V.

Dr. Ira Kalish, Deloitte Research, said: "This is an exciting time for global retailing. There is evidence of consolidation and modernization in emerging markets and the strategies behind the emergence of these new stores reflect a growing maturity among emerging market businesses."

Total retail sales for the Top 250 rose to $3.25 trillion in fiscal 2006, up eight percent from fiscal 2005 with only 36 retailers seeing declining sales in 2006, compared with 49 in 2005. According to the report, the average net profit for the group (based on available figures from 187 companies) was 3.6 percent, a small increase from 3.5 percent last year. Just seven of the 187 companies reported a net loss in 2006, compared with 15 of 188 companies in 2005.

At the top of the list, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. remained the world's largest retailer and increased its lead over second placed Carrefour Group (Carrefour). The big mover was Tesco PLC (Tesco), which overtook German retail giant Metro AG to take fourth place, the first movement among the Top 5 since 2003. In doing so, Tesco also became the second largest retailer in Europe and is gaining ground on Carrefour.

Kalish added: "The Top 10 retailers' share of Top 250 combined sales continues to inch up. With combined sales of $978.5 billion in fiscal 2006, the world's 10 largest retailers accounted for 30.1 percent of Top 250 sales compared with 29.4 percent in 2005."