1. Wal-Mart United States Sales: $374.5 billion Earnings: $12.

9 billion Stores: 6,800 worldwide

The world's largest retailer is a collection of powerhouse global brands, including its own labels
and exclusives. Wal-Mart private label brands, driven by price and value, are staple items among
consumers worldwide. Equate, Sam's Choice, and Great Value are all dominant labels as are
many of its proprietary brands in apparel and other categories.
The company is expanding its presence in the "green" arena, with more eco-friendly lines of
bedding, cleaners, and food. There's even milk made without artificial growth hormones under
the Great Value name.
Brand shops are prominent at Wal-Mart, particularly for entertainment properties appealing to
younger audiences such as High School Musical and Hannah Montana from Disney Consumer
Products. Wal-Mart's ability to obtain exclusives on such wildly popular licenses as High School
Musical digital downloads have helped the retailer attract a younger, more contemporary
shopper. In addition, the launch this spring of the OP, Ocean Pacific, exclusive collection, in a
licensing agreement with Iconix Brand Group, across softlines categories is also another
indication of the retailer's brand strategy and younger target audience.
2. Carrefour FranceSales: $130 billion (82.1 billion)Earnings: $5.2 billion (2.3 billion)Stores:
87,422 worldwide (including cash and carry, convenience stores, hypermarkets, etc.)
With more than 87,000 stores worldwide, it's hard to believe that Carrefour Group isn't the
world's largest retailer in sales, ranking second after Wal-Mart's mere 6,800 locations. But it's
worth noting that Carrefour took the No. 2 spot without opening a single store in North America.
Store sizes range from hypermarkets to convenience stores, making Carrefour stores among the
most versatile and well known in every category outside the U.S. Interbrands ranks Carrefour the
second top-performing retail brand in Europe (after H&M).
And like Wal-Mart, Carrefour is home to private label, national and international brands and is
building on this by inking deals with lucrative licensors, most recently Marvel Entertainment.
Carrefour now retains exclusive rights for the use of the Hulk, Spider-Man and Iron Man
characters on its Marvel-licensed textiles collections that will include school supplies. The first
products will hit the French market in November 2008 to coincide with the DVD release of Iron
Man. The international roll-out of the line is slated for spring 2009.

3. Tesco United KingdomSales: $102.6 billion (51.8 billion)Earnings: $5.5 billion (2.8
billion)Stores: 3,729 worldwide

Tesco launched its U.S. invasion in 2007 and the world's third largest retailer now has over 60
stores in California, Arizona, and Nevada gradually penetrating local markets.
The U.K.-based retailer goes head to head with Wal-Mart and other global retailers on other
fronts as well as boasting low prices, offering consistent, money-saving opportunities and, of
course, a strong stable of brands.
House brands play a large role at Tesco including electronics, office supplies, toys, games,
gardening tools, and computer accessories while Tesco's Finest, Healthy Eating and Value
brands play prominent roles in consumables. In fact, Tesco has put its own name on so many
items the chain was named most valuable brand in the U.K. by Intangible Business, a marketing
and consulting agency.
Exclusives to Tesco include the growing lines of Florence and Fred (F&F) apparel. Cherokee, a
label associated exclusively with Target in the U.S., is heavily promoted in the boys apparel
category at Tesco and entertainment properties are scattered across product categories.
Last year saw the addition of Disney-branded foods that go beyond shelf-stable treats into fresh
fruits and dairy items meant to promote healthy eating among kids.
4. Metro AG GermanySales: $101 billion (64.3 billion) Earnings: $1.5 billion (983
million)Stores: 2,221
Germany's largest retailer is distinctly, well, German with its unrelenting focus on affordably
priced private label products. House brands reign supreme and retail innovations keep Metro
AG's Store of the Future among retail's most progressive operators.
After forcing Wal-Mart to beat a retreat in 2006, the chain has suffered from declining sales in
Germany and sold off 245 Extra grocery stores. CEO Hans-Joachim Koerber stepped down in
September 2007 and Metro is in the midst of a restructuring but still investing in innovative
retail. The company's newest incarnation of the Store of the Future opened May 28.

5. Home Depot United States Sales: $77.3 billion Earnings: $4.2 billion Stores: 2,258
Still the top-grossing home improvement retailer, Home Depot keeps flexing its muscles even in
an economy that is hitting the real estate and home building industry harder than most.

In spite of a challenging fiscal year, Home Depot still ranks as the third largest global retailer.
And thanks to the housing slump, it's currently refocusing on retail operations and consumer
sales versus contractor accounts, making brands even more important.

The chain boasts some of the best-known private label brands including DeWalt, Ryobi, and
Behr. Its Eco Options line extends house brands into "green" territory and seasonal efforts
include licensed properties in electronics and entertainment.
Disney has a prominent place at Home Depot across multiple categories including paint, home
accessories, play structures, and interactive titles. Ralph Lauren branded paint is a staple for the
chain and Weather Channel-branded digital thermometers and weather stations are featured
prominently.
Home Depot partners with NASCAR, as the Official Home Improvement Warehouse of
NASCAR, the exclusive retailer of NASCAR and sponsorship of the No. 20 Home Depot Racing
team.

6. CVS Caremark United StatesSales: $76.3 billion (includes acquisition of

Caremark)Earnings: $2.6 billionStores: 6,245
CVS has nearly doubled in size with the acquisition of pharmacy benefit manager Caremark. But
at the retail stores, a focus on health and beauty products is driving growth and market share. The
chain distinguishes itself with store brands and exclusives that add a higher-end element such as
the Lumene and Boots brand beauty products, Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover, and 24.7 skin
care. Salon brand hair care line Christophe Beverly Hills from celebrity stylist Christophe is an
exclusive and was recently expanded with a Purely Natural extension. Playskool Baby Care
extends the Playskool brand into baby wipes and diapers and CVS has the exclusive to sell
generic ibuprofen under the Nuprin label.

7. Kroger United States Sales: $70.2 billion Earnings: $1.2 billionStores: 2,486
The largest food retailer in the United States after Wal-Mart, Kroger operates an assortment of
supermarkets under more than a dozen names including Dillon's, Ralph's, Smith's and of course
its own, Kroger. Marketplace combination formats and Fred Meyer department stores carry
global brands such as Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Sony, and Panasonic.
House brands play a large role at Kroger stores, but the chain strikes sizable strategic licensing
deals. Aristocat and Old Yeller canned pet food from Disney and Disney's Magic Selections
consist of 100 products developed with Disney exclusively for Kroger stores. There's National
Lampoon bottled water and flavored water targeting the fraternity set. Kroger is the official
retailer of the Daytona 50th Anniversary with cross promotions and a co-branded Web site.

8. Costco Sales: $64.9 billionEarnings: $1.8 billionStores: 520

Costco's house brands and private label food products are so established that club members are
rabidly loyal. The Kirkland Signature line is nearly synonymous with low price and high quality.
The company's operating model of carrying a single national brand choice alongside a store-label

option helps push consumers toward that lower-price option. But consumer response is often so
favorable to the store brand, going back to the national label seldom occurs.
Kirkland brand vodka compares favorably to high-end offerings in the same category, Kirkland
wine is garnering a loyal following and Kirkland brand linens rank among the best value in
national tests alongside department store labels.
Envision in electronics offers a compelling lower-cost option to higher-end brands and in some
cases the addition of a recognized brand is added to the store labelKirkland Signature by
Whirlpooloffers an added level of consumer confidence when buying a big-ticket appliance.
Costco recently joined forces with Martha Stewart in a deal to co-brand Kirkland Signature food
items including its holiday ham, soups, appetizers, dips, salads, and baked goods.

9. Target United StatesSales: $63.4 billion Earnings: $2.8 billion Stores: 1,591
No retailer uses celebrity brands like Target Stores. Ranked ninth on the list among global
retailers that have 10 times the number of stores, Target's high rank is attributable to its portfolio
of brands, a well-cultivated merchandise assortment and a management team that never waivers
from its mission to provide more for less.

At Target, that catch phrase includes a range of product offerings under the stores name in
commodities and consumables. The Archer Farms and Market Pantry private labels in food and
household supplies have grown into established names in their own right, but it's the celebrity
and designer line extensions that really drive store traffic and consumer loyalty.
Michael Graves, Thomas O'Brien, Victoria Hagen, Isaac Mizrahi, Cynthia Rowley, DwellStudio
all represent Target's ability to attract high-end designers as a point of differentiation in a very
competitive retail playing field. Cherokee, Eddie Bauer, Mossimo, and Merona are only
available at Target.
Exclusive licensing agreements with entertainment properties including Disney's Camp Rock
give the retailer an edge among the younger set and its ability to negotiate these deals keeps it a
destination for an always evolving list of popular properties.
10. Groupe Auchan SA France Sales: $57.7 billion (36.7 billion)Earnings: $1.2 billion (762
million)Stores: 1,140 (plus 1,448 franchised or associated supermarkets and minimarkets in Italy,
France, and Spain)
The third largest retailer in France, Groupe Auchan operates hypermarkets and supermarkets in
addition to garnering revenue from real estate and financial operations. Retail initiatives are
varied and include deep discounters, drive-through facilities, memberships clubs, and

supermarkets. Expansion efforts are physically focused largely outside of Western Europe and
the company is busily building and expanding its private label efforts including the Organic and
Eco lines, and locally sourced and certified food items from each of the regions the retailer
serves. Store brands represent nearly 40% of Auchan's merchandise mix.
11. Edeka Zentrale Germany Sales: $57.5 (36.7 billion)Earnings: N/AStores: 13,800
Where other top Germany-based retail chains are looking beyond that country's borders for
growth, Edeka Zentrale is increasing its presence in Germany, buying up stores and shedding
locations in Austria, France, and the Czech Republic. A strategy that seems to be working for the
chain, prompting a mid single-digit jump in sales toward the end of 2007, as the German
economy began to improve.
Edeka slashed prices on hundreds of grocery items to better compete with market leader Aldi.
Organic and natural foods play an important role in Edeka's business with the chain's own Bio
brand Viel Leicht low-fat meats playing a prominent role.

12. Schwarz Unternehmens Treuhand KG GermanySales: $56.1 billionEarnings: N/AStores:

7,500
Uber secretive, Schwarz operates discount stores, hypermarkets and supercenters across Europe,
primarily under the Lidl name. The German-based company is privately held and competitive. A
hard discounter, the company offers rock bottom prices on privately sourced products and private
label brands.
This is bare bones, no frills retailing. Shopping here is driven by price alone. Exclusive
partnerships, global brands, licensed products and entertainment characters are not emphasized.

13. Walgreen United StatesSales: $53.8 billionEarnings: $2.0 billionStores: 5,997

Walgreen's average store is small, but packs a lot of punch. Back of the store business
pharmacy is its raison d'etre, but the company has been steadily building front of the store sales
thanks in no small part to exclusive brands.

In fact, with pharmacy sales negatively impacted by a lack of new products, a dependency on
generics and stiff competition from other retail pharmacy chains. Walgreen is looking to brands
for growth.
Walgreen brand products are being re-branded as "W" with new packaging. There's a strong
emphasis on skin care with prestige brands exclusive to the chain including "Yes to Carrots," and
the introduction this spring of casual apparel under the proprietary Casual Gear label. Licenses

don't typically go much beyond the usual entertainment brand extensions in the health and
beauty categories and a large assortment of As Seen on TV products.

14. Centres Distributeurs E. Leclerc FranceSales: 66.0 billionEarnings: 900 millionStores:

628
This unique French co-operative is owned and operated by the Leclerc family and remains
among the country's leading supermarket chain. Like many of its European brethren, Leclerc is a
low-price leader that aggressively prices its selection of proprietary and global brands.
The retailer's own Eco line offers environmentally conscious products including cleansers and
foods, and Issaia is a low-priced line of apparel.
But Leclerc's strong family focus and presence in emerging European markets, including Poland
and the Czech Republic, makes it a strong potential partner for licensors including entertainment
properties.

15. Aldi GmbH & Co. oHG Germany Sales: $53.0 billionEarnings: N/AStores: 8,000
Another no-frills retailer, Aldi focuses on low-priced private label products. Through Aldi stores
in Europe and the United States, and the boutique upstart and subsidiary Trader Joe's in North
America, the company focuses on a streamlined product assortment that offers high-quality food
at cheaper prices. Kirkwood, Fit & Active and Crofton are among the Aldi house brands making
up the majority of the merchandise mix. National brands rarely make an appearance for longer
than a two-week "special item," and heavily promoted licensed properties go against the
company's philosophy of keeping down costs. Trader Joe's extends the same value proposition,
but to consumers interested in organic and gourmet products at lower prices. The Trader Joe's
brand is itself a powerhouse label, available at some European Aldi locations as well.

16. Sears Holdings United StatesSales: $50.7 billion Earnings: $826 million Stores: 3,847
Sears Holdings is home to some of the most recognizable brands in the United States, most of
them proprietary. Die Hard, Craftsman, Lands End, Kenmore all household names. Between
the flagship Sears locations and Kmart stores, the company has such a strong stable of exclusive
brands analysts have wondered for years why they don't just close the stores and be brand
managers for these product lines. It's an idea recently embraced by Sears Holdings chairman
Edward Lampert, who suggested the possibility of marketing proprietary brands beyond the
company's stores and restructured management along brand lines for the stated purpose of
growing these products.
No stranger to celebrity, Sears and Kmart boast lines by Martha Stewart, Ty Pennington, Rachael
Ray, and Jaclyn Smith. Joe Boxer, Covington, Canyon River Blues, and Route 66 are
recognizable store brands in apparel. Entertainment properties are prominent in toys, electronics,

media, children's, and baby departments, and Sears' ongoing sponsorship of ABC TV's popular
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" not only gets the Sears name and its brands in front of
millions of viewers each week, but brings in exclusive products to stores under the show's name.
Sears recently announced a deal with entertainer LL Cool J to devleop an exclusive apparel
collection.
17. Rewe-Zentral AG GermanySales: $48.8 billion (31.2 billion retail only)Earnings:
N/AStores: 12,000
Another closed-mouthed, privately held German retailer, Rewe excels at selling value-priced
grocery items across Europe. The group is a cooperative owned by approximately 3,000
collective members operating stores in a variety of names including Billa, Plus, Penny, and
Rewe.
Rewe is a hard discounter across all its formats and its merchandise selection is primarily private
label; 40 different private label brands across nearly 2,000 categories. Newer lines include the
eco-friendly product line Bio in dairy, packaged, and frozen foods.
The chain is focused on expansion in Eastern Europe, primarily in the Czech Republic, Hungary
and Russia.

18. Lowe's United StatesSales: $48.3 billionEarnings: $2.8 billionStores: 1,534

It's been a difficult economic environment for home improvement retailers and 2007 was not
kind to Lowe's. Like its largest rival Home Depot the chain is focused on sales to customers
rather than contractors during the housing slowdown and continues to build on its reputation as
the more female friendly, less-rough-around-the-edges home improvement store.
Proprietary brands include Kobalt hand tools, Allen + Roth window treatments, Reliabilt doors,
and Valspar paints. Appliances are prominent at Lowe's and a selection of high-end imported
brands, including Bosch and Fisher & Paykel, are a point of pride as is its racing sponsorship of
cars, drivers and the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Entertainment licenses appear in childrens' dcor
categories including wall and floor coverings and seasonal items and used opportunistically
relative to movie releases and racing.
19. ITM Developpement International (Intermarche) France Sales: $47.7 billion (30.5
billion) Earnings: N/AStores: 4,080
Intermarche is a co-operative, a consortium of independent retailers. The thousands of outlets
include supermarkets, small groceries, automotive centers, restaurants apparel, home
improvement retailers, and home and garden outlets.

But food retailing is the company's largest business, expanding into the emerging markets of
Poland, Portugal and Romania. Private label, particularly in natural and organic foods, is priority
for the company.

20. Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd JapanSales: $45.2 billion Earnings: $1.1 billionStores: 33,000
worldwide
Seven & i's portfolios of stores runs a wide gamut: convenience stores, superstores,
supermarkets, department stores, and restaurants worldwide, the company reaches across product
categories and demographics. Seven & i offers a little something for everyone.
Some of 7 eleven stores' best-known proprietary brands include Slurpee and Big Gulp beverages
and the chain carries licensed merchandise across all snack food and beverage categories. The
Seibu department stores are decidedly upscale, with designer brands and celebrity labels. But
even with nearly every licensed and celebrity endorsement the holding company plans to focus
on private label development going forward and recently launched a line of private label
products in grocery.
21. Koninklijke Ahold Netherlands Sales: $44.3 billion (28.2 billion)Earnings: $1.2 billion
(797 million)Stores: 3,225
Ahold is aggressively reducing redundant inventory, streamlining operations and emphasizing
store brands across all its various locations worldwide. Last year, the company exited Poland and
sold U.S. retailer Tops, retaining ownership of Stop & Shop, and Giant Foods. Ahold also owns
Internet retailer/home delivery service Peapod, a brand in its own right and one the Dutch retailer
is actively using in conjunction with U.S. stores.
Ahold completed nearly 70 percent of its restructuring program in 2007, part of which is to
strengthen local branding efforts. In the United States, those include premium-level store brands
Nature's Promise and Simply Enjoy.

22. Safeway United States Sales: $42.3 billionEarnings: $888.4 millionStores: 1,743
The largest grocery chain in the United States, Safeway operates a network of supermarkets in
the United States and Canada under a variety of names including Safeway, Domick's, Genuardi's,
and Vons. While competitive on price, the company cultivates an image of fresh and wholesome
foods with an upscale edge.
House brands range from staple low-cost items to aspirational Safeway and Safeway Select
and health oriented with the O Organics line now comprised of 329 SKUs. In April, Safeway
announced the formation of the Better Living Brands Alliance to expand the O Organics and
Eating Right lines across channels and into international markets.

The newly launched "mom to mom" line of baby products features more than 80 items, including
diapers, baby wipes, toiletries, lotions, and infant formula.

23. Woolworths Ltd. Australia Sales: $40.7 billion (Aud 42.5 billion) Earnings: $1.2 billion
(Aud 1.3 billion)Stores: 3,000
For the first time, this Australian retailer lands in the Top 25 Global. No relation to the old five
and dime know in the United States, Woolworths earns the bulk of its sales from food and liquor
via various formats in Australia and New Zealand. Homebrand is the chain's largest private label
which has been around for 30 years and has more than 950 SKUs. During 2007, Woolworths
introduced two of its proprietary brands into New Zealand stores.
Consumer electronics is a strong product category with the company's Dick Smith, Powerhouse
and Tandy electronics stores and the opening of five Croma brand CE stores in India.
The Big W chain is partnering with Quickflix movie rental service and has extensive
arrangements with entertainment properties. Labels like Dickies, know for its work wear in the
United States, appears Down Under in soft home, and Disney characters adorn everything from
toys to children's home furnishing.

24. Best Buy United StatesSales: $40.0 billionEarnings: $1.4 billionStores: 1,314
Best Buy has barreled past its competition to become the largest consumer electronics retailer in
North America, operating stores under the Best Buy and Future Shop names. In China, the
retailer operates a single store under its own name and 160 under the Five Star brand.
The chain's power to negotiate exclusive partnerships in its category is unparalleled. Proprietary
brands include Insignia, Geek Squad, and Rocketfish and the chains legacy as a leader in
entertainment media lends itself to concert promotions, music exclusives, downloads, and
product tie ins. Everything from an exclusive live concert video of Mariah Carey to South Park
licensed toys. Featured brands are highlighted at bestbuy.com, including Nickelodeon properties.

25. AEON Co. Japan Sales: $36.2 billion Earnings: $480 million Stores: 4,376 specialty
Japan's second largest retail company, operates supermarkets, convenience stores, malls and a
stable of specialty shops including the brands J Jill, the Body Shop (in Japan), Origin Sports (the
Japanese operator of the Sports Authority), Talbots (U.S.) and Laura Ashley (Japan). Dragged
down by its underperforming U.S. segment Talbot's, Aeon is focused on expanding in Asian
markets.
There's a big focus on house brands across Aeon's food chains, but not to the same degree as
European discount stores. Aeon's Topvalu brand is its most promoted and makes up less than 10
percent of sales at applicable stores.