World's Largest and Most Famous Retail Stores and Chains

Find numbers, news, facts, and best practices from top U.S. retail chains here. Complete and updated research, statistics, history, and background information from the U.S. retail industry are available for retail industry professionals and students.

This is a list of the retail franchises ranked as the best in the world for 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The annual list of Top 100 Global Franchises is compiled by FranchiseDirect.com based on the best financial performance, social and environmental responsibility, and franchisee support, according to FranchiseDirect.com.

While the world renown annual Fortune 500 list focuses on America's largest publicly traded companies, rival Forbes magazine publishes its "America's Largest Private Companies" list each year focusing on privately held enterprises. Find out which retail organizations were ranked in 2008 among the largest privately held companies in the U.S. here.

While the world renown annual Fortune 500 list focuses on America's largest publicly traded companies, rival Forbes magazine publishes its "America's Largest Private Companies" list each year focusing on privately held enterprises. Find out which retail organizations were ranked in 2008 among the largest privately held companies in the U.S. here.

Read top retail news stories about the largest retail chains in the world here. News stories about the largest global retail chains in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and all continents and countries in the world can be found here. Top global retail industry news stories from July, 2010 to December, 2010 are referenced in this article.

Find a complete list of the largest discount store chains that are ranked among the largest retailers in the world here. This is the list of discount store retail chains that were included on the 2010 Global Powers of Retailing list published annually by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine.

Find a complete list of the largest hypermarket, supercenter, and superstore companies that are ranked among the largest retailers in the world here. This is the list of hypermarket, supercenter and superstore retail chains that were included on the 2010 Global Powers of Retailing list published annually by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine.

Find a complete list of the largest supermarket companies that are ranked among the largest retailers in the world here. This is the list of supermarket retail chains that were included on the 2010 Global Powers of Retailing list published annually by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine.

Find a complete list of the largest supermarket companies that are ranked among the largest retailers in the world here. This is the list of supermarket retail chains that were included on the 2010 Global Powers of Retailing list published annually by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine.

Find a complete list of the largest supermarket companies that are ranked among the largest retailers in the world here. This is the list of supermarket retail chains that were included on the 2010 Global Powers of Retailing list published annually by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and STORES Magazine.

This is a list of the world's largest retail malls based on "gross leasable area," according to Forbes magazine. Get photos, details, and history of the world's largest retail shopping malls here.

Find the newest inductees and the complete membership list of the World Retail Hall of Fame, which is organized by the World Retail Congress. Members of the Retail Hall of Fame are recognized for their significant contributions to the modern retail industry and are nominated by their retail peers.

Get information about Selfridges Flagship store in the UK, which was named as the World's Best Department store at the 2010 Global Department Store Summit. Find photo and history of Selfridges here and details and its competition for "world's largest" status.

Major retail chains and CEOs are voting early in the 2008 presidential election with their political contributions to the Obama and McCain campaigns. These corporate political affiliations could help build their retail brand, or hurt their reputation with consumers.

The career path to becoming a retail CEO is not always a steady ascent up the corporate ladder. The work histories of contemporary retail rock star CEOs reveal that several routes and strategies can help to advance a career all the way to the top seat in the boardroom.

Get to know the down-to-earth visionary who built the world's largest retail operation - Sam Walton

Ranked #7 on the Forbes World Billionaire list, Ingvar Kamprad has had a successful retail career. Read about the founder of IKEA home furnishings and discover how this wildly successful retailer got his start.

Read a bio of Richard Branson, the UK's most famous, visible, and flamboyant entrepreneur. Get inspired by the adventures and milestones in the career of this passionate international business leader.

Billionaire Gerry Harvey is one of the most famous retailers in Australian history. Read a candid interview with Harvey where he reveals his childhood struggles, his first selling experiences, and his controversial entrepreneurial retail career.