2010 Global Retail Development Index™
As the dust settles from a turbulent 2009, retailers in developed markets face a changed landscape that features fewer stores, heavier discounting and more fickle shoppers. In contrast, retail in most developing markets quickly got back on track after the recession. Desirable real estate is still difficult to obtain, competition remains strong both from domestic and foreign players, and the middle class continues to grow.
If global retailers ever questioned the wisdom of balancing their domestic holdings with investments in developing markets, the recession certainly reaffirmed its value. Retail executives have learned again that their core markets are not the powerful engines of growth they would like—United States and European GDP growth in 2010 is expected to hover around 3 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Today, reliance on developing countries for future growth is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but is a necessity.
This changing competitive environment highlights the need for companies to compare different markets for entry prospects—which A.T. Kearney’s 2010 Global Retail Development Index™ (GRDI) can help them do. The annual study ranks the top 30 emerging countries for retail expansion, based on 25 macroeconomic and retail-specific variables.
In addition, this year we include for the first time the findings of a survey of roughly 60 executives from global retail companies, who were asked about their company’s international expansion plans and their lessons learned. The perspectives and comments of these executives:
- Help confirm our rankings
- Offer insight into what criteria retailers use to select new countries
- Examine past lessons
- Identify emerging competitive trends
 Expanding Opportunities for Global Retailers—2010 Global Retail Development Index™
While the world’s biggest developed economies slowly resume their growth trajectories, developing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East appear poised for remarkable growth.
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Global Expansion a Must for Retailers: A.T. Kearney Study
21 June 2010
Slow growth, heavy discounting and more fickle shoppers in recession-weary developed markets mean retailers should be increasingly focused on international expansion, according to the 9th annual Global Retail Development Index study.
Read the news release
About the Index
Published since 2002, the GRDI helps retailers prioritize their global development strategies by ranking the retail expansion attractiveness of emerging countries based on a set of 25 variables including economic and political risk, retail market attractiveness, retail saturation levels, and modern retailing sales area and sales growth. The GRDI focuses on opportunities for mass merchant and food retailers, which are typically the bellwether for modern retailing concepts in a country.
Learn more about how GRDI research provides important insights:
- For consumer products & retail businesses, ways the world and markets are changing
- For a wide spectrum of businesses, useful consumer information
 [Watch the Video]
Media Highlights
Global Retailers: Expansion Opportunities in 2010
July 2010 — Global Retail Newsletter
Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), annual survey of 30 emerging markets conducted by A.T.Kearney, helps retailers to fix the strategies of their global expansion while ranking the commercial attraction of these countries.
A.T. Kearney Index Places Eight Mena Countries among Top 21 Retail Growth Opportunities Globally
22 June 2010 — AMEinfo.com
According to the 9th annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) study from management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region exhibits the most exciting retail growth opportunities today for international retailers.
Exporters Optimistic Over Move on Currency
22 June 2010 — New York Times
Hana Ben-Shabat, A. T. Kearney partner and co-lead for the firm's Global Retail Development Index, explains that the study shows some companies may decide to continue diversifying their suppliers, spreading their bets among different countries instead of being so attached to getting a large proportion of their goods out of China.
Retailers' New Frontier Goes Beyond 'BRIC' Countries
21 June 2010 — MarketWatch
Alongside the promise of the so-called 'BRIC' countries to the U.S. and other global retailers, smaller emerging markets, including Kuwait and Dubai, are rising as the new crop of global expansion opportunities.
Western Retailers: Yuan Move Not All Bad
21 June 2010 — Reuters
In the Global Retail Development Index released on Monday by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, China is ranked number one, and the Chinese market is expected to become even more attractive as the yuan appreciates.
Global Expansion a Must for Retailers: A.T. Kearney Study
21 June 2010 — Earth Times
Slow growth, heavy discounting and more fickle shoppers in recession-weary developed markets mean retailers should be increasingly focused on international expansion, according to the 9th annual Global Retail Development Index.
Past Reports
2009 Global Retail Development Index™
In a year when consumer spending and retail sales are declining in home markets, global expansion to emerging markets increases in importance as a strategy for growth. Unlike most developed markets, GDP in emerging markets is expected to continue to grow, albeit at a slower rate. The larger, more resilient emerging markets sit atop the 2009 GRDI as they are most likely to lead the economic recover.
[Read Article]
2008 Global Retail Development Index™
Vietnam has ended India's three-year reign as the most attractive emerging market destination for retail investment.
[Read Article]
2007 Global Retail Development Index™
Now in its sixth year, the GRDI identifies windows of opportunity to help retailers make strategic investments in exciting new markets.
[READ ARTICLE]
2006 Global Retail Development Index™
As the pace of globalization quickens so does the race into new markets. But success in this race does not necessarily go to the swiftest. Rather, it goes to companies that make the right moves at the right times. Location is still important, but timing is the name of this retail game.
[READ ARTICLE]
2005 Global Retail Development Index™
The global retail game is changing. While players surged into new markets in 2004, this year they are more focused on rebalancing their positions.
[READ ARTICLE]
2004 Global Retail Development Index™
After a pullback in 2003, global retail is back on track for growth. The most significant growth is taking place in emerging markets where about two-thirds of global retailers interviewed are planning to increase their activities this year.
[READ ARTICLE]
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